Drug & supplement interaction

Maggot Therapy + Ivermectin

Ivermectin brand names: Stromectol, Mectizan, Sklice, Soolantra.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Maggot Therapy has a moderate interaction with Ivermectin. Theoretically, ivermectin might interfere with maggot therapy.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Maggot Therapy and Ivermectin

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

IVERMECTIN (Stromectol, others)

Theoretically, ivermectin might interfere with maggot therapy.
In vitro research shows that ivermectin decreases survival of Lucilia sericata. Due to its larvicidal properties, ivermectin may theoretically decrease the effectiveness of maggot therapy, especially if applied to the skin.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's something interesting about pairing these two. Ivermectin works by paralyzing and killing parasites, and it turns out it can have the same effect on the medical-grade larvae used in maggot therapy. So this isn't about ivermectin building up or wearing off in your body. It's the other way around: ivermectin may harm or kill the maggots, which could make the wound-cleaning treatment work less well.

I want to be honest with you that this concern is theoretical, based mostly on lab studies, not strong patient data. The biggest worry would be ivermectin applied directly to or near the skin where the maggots are placed. If you're using both, please mention it to your wound-care team or pharmacist so they can space them out or plan the timing. Don't stop either one on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Amin AM. In vitro effect of ivermectin on the larvae of Lucilia sericata meigen in Saudi Arabia. J Egypt Soc Parasitol 1998;28(1):53-8.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

From our Q&A

Questions About Maggot Therapy or Ivermectin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Maggot Therapy or Ivermectin, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ivermectin

This page covers Maggot Therapy only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ivermectin page lists 58 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), St. John's Wort (major), Sweet Orange (major), Bitter Melon (moderate) and Black Pepper (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 37 moderate · 18 minor.

Open the Ivermectin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Maggot Therapy and Ivermectin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Maggot Therapy
Top half

#549 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Ivermectin
Top 1%

#12 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Treatment approach

About Maggot Therapy

What is Maggot Therapy?

  • Cleaning (debriding) dead tissue from chronic wounds
  • Diabetic foot ulcers
  • Pressure sores (bedsores)
  • Leg ulcers (venous or arterial)
  • Infected or non-healing surgical wounds
  • Wounds that have not responded to standard care

Maggot therapy (also called maggot debridement therapy or larval therapy) is a medical treatment in which sterile, medical-grade fly larvae are placed on a wound to remove dead tissue and help cleaning. It is a prescription, clinician-applied therapy — not a dietary supplement or herb — and should only be done under professional supervision. It can be useful for certain hard-to-heal wounds, but it is not a do-it-yourself treatment.

Read the full Maggot Therapy monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ivermectin

What Is Ivermectin Used For?

Brand names: Stromectol, Mectizan, Sklice, Soolantra

Ivermectin tablets (including Stromectol) are used to treat two parasitic infections: strongyloidiasis (a roundworm infection of the intestinal tract) and onchocerciasis (river blindness, caused by a parasitic worm spread by blackfly bites). These are prescription uses for serious infections.

Topical ivermectin lotion — sold under several names including RID One and Done, Head Lice Treatment Ivermectin Lotion, Scalp Care Lotions, and others — is applied to the scalp to treat head lice. A separate topical ivermectin cream (1%), available as Soolantra and ivermectin cream 1%, is used to treat the inflammatory pimple-like bumps of rosacea.

See full Ivermectin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Maggot Therapy

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Maggot Therapy — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Maggot Therapy against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Maggot Therapy list.

See the full Maggot Therapy interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ivermectin, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Maggot Therapy monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ivermectin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ivermectin, ranked by severity Ivermectin drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Having Maggot Therapy While Taking Ivermectin: Common Questions

Can you have Maggot Therapy while taking Ivermectin?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Maggot Therapy and Ivermectin interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Ivermectin and Maggot Therapy?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.