Buy Ivermectin Online in Canada: legality, safety, and where to get it
If you're searching for ivermectin online in Canada, the first thing to know is that it's a prescription-only drug. A legal Canadian online pharmacy will dispense it only after a health-care professional prescribes it for an approved use. In Canada, ivermectin is approved for two parasitic worm infections, not for COVID-19. Any site that sells it without a prescription is not a licensed Canadian pharmacy.
What is ivermectin?
Ivermectin is a macrocyclic lactone antiparasitic medication used to treat infections caused by parasitic worms. In Canada, it's sold under the brand name Stromectol, and generic versions approved by Health Canada are also available. Human oral ivermectin comes as 3 mg tablets, and higher doses are taken as multiple tablets based on body weight.
Ivermectin works by binding with high affinity to glutamate-gated chloride channels in the nerve and muscle cells of parasites. This increases the cell membrane's permeability to chloride ions and leads to hyperpolarization, paralysis, and death of the parasite.
Health Canada has authorized ivermectin as a prescription drug for two human parasitic worm infections: intestinal strongyloidiasis, caused by the roundworm Strongyloides stercoralis, and onchocerciasis (river blindness), caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus.
As an antiparasitic, ivermectin targets worms, not viruses. It is not a treatment for colds, flu, or other viral infections, and it is not authorized for COVID-19.
Is it legal to Buy Ivermectin Online in Canada?
Ivermectin is a prescription drug (Rx-only) in Canada. Health Canada has authorized it for human use only for the parasitic worm infections listed above, and it should be used only under the supervision of a health-care professional.
That status has direct consequences for online buyers:
- A legal Canadian online or mail-order pharmacy requires a valid prescription before it will dispense ivermectin.
- Under Canada's Food and Drugs Act, a drug cannot be labelled, packaged, treated, processed, sold, or advertised in a manner that is false, misleading, or deceptive, or likely to create an erroneous impression. This applies to online advertising that falsely suggests unapproved uses such as COVID-19 treatment or prevention.
- Sites that offer ivermectin without a prescription, or that ship unverified products from outside the regulated pharmacy system, are not operating as licensed Canadian pharmacies and can put buyers at risk.
Veterinary ivermectin is not for humans
Veterinary ivermectin, including livestock paste, injectables, and oral solutions made for animals, is for animals only. These products can deliver excessive doses or use different formulations, and taking them can cause serious health problems in humans. Health Canada has explicitly warned Canadians not to use veterinary ivermectin for COVID-19.
Ivermectin and COVID-19: what Health Canada says
Health Canada says there is no evidence that ivermectin prevents or treats COVID-19. It is not authorized in Canada for that purpose, and Health Canada says it has not received any drug submission or clinical trial application for ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19.
Health Canada advises Canadians not to use ivermectin, human or veterinary, to prevent or treat COVID-19, because it is not authorized for that use and may cause serious health problems. Read the Health Canada advisory.
Ivermectin's popularity for COVID-19 stems from online misinformation. Health Canada and provincial professional regulators issued warnings after reports of Canadians using veterinary ivermectin for this purpose. Any website that markets ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment is making claims Health Canada has publicly rejected. Treat those sites as unsafe.
If you have taken ivermectin outside its authorized use and are concerned, consult a health-care professional.
How to Buy Ivermectin Online safely
The only safe way to Buy Ivermectin Online in Canada is from a licensed pharmacy that dispenses it on a valid prescription. To verify a seller:
- Get a prescription first. A licensed Canadian health-care practitioner must assess you and prescribe ivermectin for an approved indication. No legitimate pharmacy will dispense it without one.
- Confirm the pharmacy's licence. Licensed pharmacies are regulated by the pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA) of their province or territory. Search the PRA's website to confirm the pharmacy is properly licensed.
- Check for verifiable contact information. A legitimate site provides a Canadian street address, a pharmacy licence number, and working phone and email contacts.
- Confirm a pharmacist is available. A safe online pharmacy makes a Canadian-licensed pharmacist available during regular business hours.
Red flags of unverified sellers
- The site does not require a prescription or offers an "instant" prescription during checkout.
- It advertises ivermectin for COVID-19.
- It sells veterinary products for human use.
- It has no verifiable Canadian address or licence number.
If no Canadian address is listed, Health Canada's guidance suggests checking whether the site has been reviewed under the .Pharmacy Verified Websites Program as an additional way to assess its legitimacy.
Some Canadian virtual-care services connect you with licensed practitioners who can assess you and send a prescription electronically to a pharmacy of your choice, including a mail-order pharmacy. The dispensing pharmacy must still be licensed, and the prescription must be genuine.
Ivermectin dosage and how to take it
Ivermectin dosing depends on body weight and is individualized. In Canada, oral ivermectin comes as 3 mg tablets, so a higher total dose means taking more tablets. A note on strengths: some international products are sold as 6 mg or 12 mg tablets, but those strengths are not verified as authorized in Canada.
| Condition | Typical single oral dose | Example total doses using 3 mg tablets |
|---|---|---|
| Intestinal strongyloidiasis | Approximately 200 µg/kg of body weight | 3 mg for 15 to 24 kg; 6 mg for 25 to 35 kg; 9 mg for 36 to 50 kg; 12 mg for 51 to 65 kg; 15 mg for 66 to 79 kg; patients 80 kg and over, dosed at 200 µg/kg |
| Onchocerciasis (river blindness) | Approximately 150 µg/kg of body weight | 3 to 12 mg (1 to 4 tablets) for body weights of 15 to 84 kg; patients 85 kg and over, dosed at 150 µg/kg |
How to take it:
- Swallow the tablets with water on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before food.
- A high-fat meal increases absorption by about 2 to 2.5 times, which is why the product monograph specifies an empty stomach.
- For uncomplicated strongyloidiasis, Canadian clinical guidance lists ivermectin as the first-line treatment. Additional doses are usually not needed, although some guidelines recommend a repeat dose in certain circumstances. Severe or disseminated strongyloidiasis may require longer or repeated courses, sometimes with another antiparasitic such as albendazole, under expert guidance.
- For onchocerciasis, ivermectin reduces microfilarial counts quickly but does not kill adult worms. Repeat dosing may be needed over time according to control programmes.
- Take the full course as prescribed and never share the medication.
Side effects, precautions, and interactions
Ivermectin is used safely when prescribed for an approved indication and taken under the supervision of a health-care professional. Misuse, including unapproved doses, veterinary products, or use for COVID-19, may cause serious health problems.
Before prescribing, your health-care provider needs your complete medical history and a full list of your prescription and over-the-counter medications, so they can assess whether ivermectin is appropriate and check for potential interactions. Because dosing depends on body weight, self-medicating with products of uncertain strength, especially from unverified online sellers, increases the risk of toxicity.
- Never take veterinary ivermectin; it can deliver excessive doses and cause harm.
- Do not take it for any condition other than the one prescribed.
- If symptoms do not improve, or if you have health concerns after taking the medicine, consult a health-care professional.
- For strongyloidiasis, follow-up stool examinations are used to confirm the infection has cleared, so keep any follow-up appointments your care team recommends.
Ivermectin price and saving tips in Canada
Prices vary across Canadian online pharmacies, and some Canadian sites quote prices in U.S. dollars instead of Canadian dollars, so check the currency before comparing.
Among Canadian-focused listings with Canadian-dollar pricing, the per-tablet price for 3 mg tablets has ranged from about CAD $2.65 to CAD $4.15, and larger quantities often lower the per-tablet cost. For example, one Canadian online pharmacy lists Stromectol 3 mg from CAD $3.07 per tablet, with the price per pill decreasing as quantity increases.
Health Canada approved generic ivermectin is bioequivalent to Stromectol. It has the same active ingredient, approved indications, and dosing, but may differ in manufacturer, inactive ingredients, and appearance. Generics are sometimes, but not always, lower in price, so compare both at the pharmacy you choose.
Some licensed Canadian mail-order pharmacies offer a price-match guarantee. For example, if a product is listed at $50.00 and you find the identical product at another mail-order pharmacy for $40.00, the pharmacy discounts your price by $12.50, bringing the total to $37.50. Price matching usually applies only to identical products (same brand, manufacturer, strength, pack size, and quantity) and is typically arranged by phone. Use it only among licensed pharmacies; prices from unverified sellers are not a safe benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a prescription to Buy Ivermectin Online in Canada? Yes. Ivermectin is a prescription drug in Canada, so licensed pharmacies require a valid prescription, and it should be used under a health-care professional's supervision.
Can I buy ivermectin over the counter? No. It is not sold over the counter in Canada.
Is ivermectin safe for COVID-19? No. Health Canada says there is no evidence it prevents or treats COVID-19, and it is not authorized for that use. Using it for COVID-19, especially veterinary forms, may cause serious health problems.
Can I use veterinary ivermectin? No. Veterinary products must never be used in humans; they can deliver excessive doses and cause serious harm.
What is ivermectin used for? In Canada, ivermectin is approved to treat intestinal strongyloidiasis (Strongyloides stercoralis) and onchocerciasis (river blindness) (Onchocerca volvulus).
What if I miss a dose? Ivermectin is usually given as a single weight-based dose. If you miss one, or you're not sure whether you need a repeat dose, ask your prescriber or pharmacist. Do not take extra medicine on your own.