The TGA has banned GPs from prescribing oral ivermectin for off-label uses, including for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.

Announced on Friday, the restrictions mean they can only prescribe ivermectin in its oral form for TGA-approved indications: scabies and the parasitic infections that cause river blindness and intestinal strongyloidiasis. 

Off-label use remains permitted by certain specialists, including infectious disease physicians, dermatologists, gastroenterologists and hepatologists.

In its statement, the medicines watchdog said there had been a 3-4-fold increase in dispensing of ivermectin prescriptions in recent months, leading to national shortages.