The Food and Drug Administration on Monday advised the public against using veterinary drug ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19.

Ivermectin is used to treat parasites in animals, according to an FDA advisory.

Clinical trials have yet to show benefits in using ivermectin to counter COVID-19, FDA Director General Dr. Eric Domingo.

Philippine-registered oral preparations for ivermectin are also only for animals, he said.

"Binabalaan po namin na huwag tayong iinom ng gamot na para sa hayop kasi iba po ang dosage n'yan, iba po ang quality n'yan at hindi tayo nakakasigurado na ito ay aakma sa tao, lalo na 'pag maling dose," Domingo said in a press briefing.

(We are warning the public not to drink medication for animals because these have different dosage, different quality and we can't be sure that it will be appropriate for humans, especially if the dosage is wrong.)

Animal drugs are often highly concentrated and can be toxic to humans, the FDA advisory reads.