Bill Introduced to Expand Over-the-Counter Access to Ivermectin

Senator Alan Clark has introduced SB 189, a bill that has garnered national attention and inspired similar legislative efforts across multiple states. This legislation seeks to make ivermectin available over the counter, increasing accessibility for those who choose to use it.

Ivermectin has a well-documented history of medical recognition. In 2015, the Nobel Committee honored its discovery—the only award for treatments of infectious diseases in over 60 years. [1] Approved by the FDA in 1987, the drug has been widely used, with an estimated 4 billion doses administered globally. It has been consistently listed on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. [2] Until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, ivermectin was largely uncontroversial, only becoming the subject of intense debate when its potential use for COVID-19 treatment was explored.

As physicians and researchers examined ivermectin’s possible role in treating COVID-19, public discourse became polarized. Critics argue that regulatory actions and negative media coverage contributed to misinformation and government overreach, ultimately restricting patient and provider autonomy in healthcare decisions.

Despite this, many individuals have researched ivermectin and concluded that its benefits outweigh potential risks. A study conducted between May 2020 and December 2021 on the misuse of ivermectin reported six deaths worldwide—an annual average of 3.6 deaths. [3] By comparison, Tylenol misuse results in approximately 500 deaths annually, [4]while ibuprofen misuse accounts for an estimated 3,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. [5]

Brock Thompson, a Little Rock native who initially proposed the bill to Senator Clark, emphasized that studies have demonstrated ivermectin’s safety for human use—even more so than Tylenol and Advil. He stated, “I believe in medical freedom—everyone should have access to accurate information and the right to make informed decisions about their own health.”

Senator Clark’s leadership in filing SB 189 has drawn widespread support, with numerous co-sponsors joining the initiative. This bill is not only a step toward deregulating a medication with a strong safety record, but it is also concise—just one page in length—ensuring transparency and accessibility for all Arkansans.

As President Trump would say, this is truly a “beautiful bill.”