The I-MASK+ for the Prophylaxis and Early Treatment Protocol of COVID-19

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

July 9, 2022 update: The FLCCC Early Treatment Protocol is now The FLCCC I-CARE Early COVID Treatment Protocol

July 5, 2022 update. The FLCCC updated its Prevention Protocol. It is all at The I-PREVENT COVID Protection Protocol.

This article updates the MATH+ protocol discussed in— The MATH+ Protocol Results in Greater Survival in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

The update is the addition of Ivermectin to MATH+. This resulted in the new protocol, the I-MASK+. The protocol resulted from the physicians of the FLCCC or the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance.

The original MATH+ stands for Methylprednisolone, Ascorbic acid, Thiamine, and Heparin. The + is for Vitamin D, melatonin, and zinc.  

This article’s source is the FLCCC’s Review of the Emerging Evidence Demonstrating the Efficacy of Ivermectin in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of COVID-19, which reviewed 27 studies totaling 6,612 patients. Among those are:

  • 16 of them were randomized controlled trials
  • 5 of which are double-blinded,
  • one single-blinded (study subjects = 2,503)]
  • 11 of those studies were published in peer-reviewed journals with 3,900 patients. 

The bottom line is that ivermectin reduces the transmission and is effective for prophylaxis and treatment in mild and severe COVID-19.

How does Ivermectin do that?

  1. Ivermectin prevents SARS-CoV-2 attachment – Four studies of hundreds of molecules show that ivermectin is one with the highest if not the highest binding affinity to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2. The binding to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 is the same mechanism as the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Once the spike proteins are occupied, then the coronaviruses cannot attach to human cells.
  2. Ivermectin prevents SARS-CoV-2 replication. Ivermectin binds and interferes with the proteins needed for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to replicate. Viruses should be present in enough numbers before they start the disease.
  3. Ivermectin is an anti-inflammatory. In animal studies, ivermectin reduced the cytokine concentrations inside the nose of treated animals. In vitro or laboratory studies have shown that ivermectin has anti-inflammatory properties. This is significant because severe COVID-19 is due to an overwhelming inflammatory response called a cytokine storm.

The effects of Ivermectin resulted in the studies showing statistically significant differences in:

  • The decrease in viral load.
  • Decrease of the duration of symptoms like days of anosmia or loss of smell, and cough
  • Reduction in the rate of deterioration or hospitalization
  • Time to recovery or hospital length of stay
  • Reductions in mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients

It should be mentioned that the studies were made in many countries like the USA, Peru, Iran, India, France, Brazil, China, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Argentina, to mention some.

All the data about ivermectin prompted the authors to make the I-MASK+ Protocol for the prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19.

I-MASK+ Prophylaxis & Early Outpatient Treatment Protocol for COVID-19

 

I-MASK+ Prophylaxis Protocol for COVID-19

 

I-MASK+ Early Treatment Protocol for COVID-19

Safety of Ivermectin

The adverse effects of ivermectin are described as mild, transient, and largely
attributed to the body’s inflammatory response to the death of the parasites and include itching, rash, swollen lymph nodes, joint pains, fever, and headache

In a study of 50,000 patients given ivermectin, serious events occurred in less than 1% and were largely associated with use in a disease called Loa loa.

Only 2 cases of liver injury have been reported, and both rapidly resolved without treatment.

Rare reports of neurologic side effects like ataxia, altered consciousness, seizure, or tremor have been reported. These reactions may be due to other drugs used simultaneously that allowed ivermectin to pass through the blood-brain barrier or polymorphisms in the MDR-1 gene.

Lastly, ivermectin has been safely used in pregnant women, children, and infants.

Drug interactions

The drugs contraindicated with the use of ivermectin are anti-tuberculosis and cholera vaccines. Warfarin, a blood thinner, would require dose monitoring. (Lexicomp)

Patients on calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus or cyclosporine or the immunosuppressant sirolimus should closely monitor drug levels when on ivermectin.

NIH statement about ivermectin in covid-19

The following is the National Institute of Health’s statement regarding ivermectin for COVID-19 as of January 14, 2021,

The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) has determined that currently there are insufficient data to recommend either for or against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19. Results from adequately powered, well-designed, and well-conducted clinical trials are needed to provide more specific, evidence-based guidance on the role of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19.

The authors of the referenced article about ivermectin argue that the evidence they presented is enough for ivermectin to receive an A-1 level recommendation.

An A-1 recommendation means multiple randomized control trials have been done and supported by meta-analysis. All of which are contained in the referenced article.

The authors from FLCCC states:

Based on the NIH rating scheme, the strongest recommendation possible would be an A-I in support of ivermectin which requires “one or more randomized trials with clinical outcomes and/or laboratory endpoints.”
Given that data from 16 randomized controlled trials (RCT’s)
demonstrate consistent and large improvements in “clinical
outcomes” such as transmission rates, hospitalization rates, and death rates, it appears that the criteria for an A-I level recommendation has been exceeded.

The response of the FLCCC to the NIH recommendation is contained in this public statement, FLCCC Alliance Response to the NIH Guideline Committee Recommendation on Ivermectin use in COVID-19 dated January 14th, 2021

In conclusion, we are disappointed by the Panel’s hesitancy to make a recommendation in support of ivermectin, one of the safest, low-cost, and widely available drugs in the history of medicine.

While we are thankful for the commitment made to closely monitor the findings of RCT’s near to completion, we struggle to identify an explanation for this level of cautiousness in the setting of escalating and uncontrolled case counts, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19.

The evidence in favor of Ivermectin is growing rapidly; it now includes approximately 32 controlled trials with 20 of them
RCT’s with a large majority showing statistically significant impacts on time to viral clearance.

Numerous groups worldwide have performed similar meta-analyses of these trials and concluded that ivermectin is a highly effective therapy for COVID-19 and/or should be widely adopted for use.

In the end, based on the NIH recommendation, the use of ivermectin in COVID-19 should be between the physician and the patient.

Do not take ivermectin unless your physician recommends it.

Knowledge about Covid-19 is rapidly evolving. Information may update as new studies are made. Stay current by subscribing. Feel free to share.

Don’t Get Sick!

Interesting reads:

  1. COVID-19, Autoimmunity, and Vaccination Part 2
  2. 60% may already have Immunity to COVID-19
  3. Molecular Mimicry between the SARS-CoV-2 and the Breathing Center
  4. COVID-19, Autoimmunity, and Vaccination Part 1
  5. Vitamin B1 or Thiamine in Infections
  6. The MATH+ Protocol Results in Greater Survival in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
  7. Antibodies to COVID-19 can Exist in the Uninfected
  8. Sugar Increases Blood Pressure, Weight, Worsens Diabetes and COVID-19 Outcomes
  9. Zinc Deficiency Impairs the Immune System
  10. Vitamin C and COVID-19
  11. Any Science behind Elderberry for Influenza and Covid-19?

Reference:

Kory, P., MD, Meduri, G. U., MD, Iglesias, J., Varon, J., Berkowitz, K., MD, Kornfeld, H., MD, … Marik, P. E. (2020, November 13). Review of the Emerging Evidence Demonstrating the Efficacy of Ivermectin in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of COVID-19. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/wx3zn

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