2 Years of Hope and Hype: A Brief History of Prescriptions Heralded for the Treatment of COVID-19

Throughout the pandemic, a number of medications have been touted as potential COVID treatments and people took notice, resulting in significant increases in consumer demand. Two years in, SingleCare analyzed its prescription fill volume for ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, and zinc to evaluate the demand for these medications and how they tied back to key moments in time. 

Although these drugs are proven to treat other conditions, they have yet to receive FDA approvals to treat COVID-19—and still, consumer demand for these medications spiked for prolonged periods, often spurred by endorsements from public figures, social media or other reports.

COVID Drugs: A Two-Year View of Trends in Prescription Fills on SingleCare

*Baseline fills is the average of the first six months of 2021 for ivermectin 

*Baseline fills is the average of the first six months of 2020 for hydroxychloroquine and zinc 

While many drugs saw peaks and valleys of popularity tied to news moments or case surges, this report starts by casting a spotlight on the drug that arguably saw the greatest notoriety during the pandemic. 

Ivermectin

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medicine used to treat infections caused by certain parasites invading the body. The FDA issued a statement in April 2021 that the drug has not been approved for use against COVID though some groups maintain its efficacy.

In December 2020, Dr. Pierre Kory testified to the United States Senate that ivermectin was a “wonder drug with immensely powerful antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents. ” After Dr. Kory’s Senate hearing, his comments were widely shared on social media and garnered over a million views on YouTube. That December, SingleCare saw ivermectin fills significantly increase by 288% compared to November 2020.   In August 2021, fills spiked again as cases rose amid the Delta variant surge – SingleCare saw a 2,012% increase in fills compared to August 2020 and a 226% increase from July 2021. That same month, the CDC, the American Medical Association, and FDA, cautioned against using the drug for the treatment of COVID-19. 

*Baseline fills is the average of the first six months of 2021 for ivermectin 

Today, as cases across the country hit new record highs due to the Omicron variant, fills for ivermectin have once again begun to rise. In December 2021, SingleCare saw a 114% increase compared to November 2021, and a 162% increase in fills when compared to December 2020. In January 2022, SingleCare has already seen fills surpass January 2021 fills by 144%. 

The NIH has not recommended the use of ivermectin for or against for the treatment against COVID-19 due to insufficient evidence. During the White House’s press briefing on Jan. 12, 2022, Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that ivermectin is a part of a current clinical trial. 

Hydroxychloroquine sulfate

Hydroxychloroquine sulfate is an antimalarial used to treat lupus, malaria, and rheumatoid arthritis. During the early months of the pandemic, clinical researchers explored hydroxychloroquine as a potential therapeutic against the novel coronavirus and in March 2020, the FDA granted emergency use authorization for the drug in hospitalized settings. As researchers examined the drug, former President Donald Trump often promoted the drug, touting it as a game changer during his press briefings. In March 2020, SingleCare saw a 470% increase in fills for the prescription compared to March 2019. 

*Baseline fills is the average of the first six months of 2020 for hydroxychloroquine sulfate

In June 2020, the FDA revoked its previous authorization of hydroxychloroquine as it was deemed to be ineffective against COVID-19, however, public figures continued their support for it. After former President Donald Trump touted the drug on his social media, SingleCare saw fills for hydroxychloroquine peak in August 2020 – up 1,053% compared to August 2019. Since that time, SingleCare has seen demand for hydroxychloroquine gradually decline and flatten out.    

Zinc 

Zinc is a mineral that helps your immune system and metabolism function. Given its benefits in supporting the immune system, fills for the supplement steadily increased on SingleCare, oftentimes corresponding to spikes in COVID cases. 

*Baseline fills is the average of the first six months of 2020 for zinc

SingleCare saw its highest volume of fills for zinc in January 2021 – a 303% increase when compared to January 2020– corresponding with the winter surge in COVID cases. Its second highest month for fills was in August 2021, a 66% increase compared to August 2020 which corresponds with the rise in Delta cases across the country. While the supplement can help boost the immune system, no public health authority has endorsed zinc for COVID prevention. 

Authorized COVID treatments

Between public reports of COVID medications and waves of cases, many consumers continue their search for medications to help treat and prevent COVID-19. As the United States currently grapples with the Omicron variant, there have been medical advancements and new treatments proven to combat the virus. The FDA recently issued emergency use authorization for Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, two COVID-19 antiviral treatments, and expanded the use of remdesivir for outpatient treatment. With these new prescription drugs available, consumers can now access clinically approved treatments that have been authorized by the FDA. 

Methodology

Data analyzed include ivermectin, zinc, and hydroxychloroquine sulfate filled by SingleCare customers from 2020 - 2022. Data was reviewed and analyzed by the SingleCare team as of Feb. 3, 2022.