No — not in the ordinary sense that aspirin or ibuprofen is over the counter. Oral ivermectin tablets for human use are still a federally prescription-only drug, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not switched them to non-prescription status. What changed in Arkansas is state law: in March 2025 Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Senate Bill 189 (enacted as Act 396), which, as reported by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and UALR Public Radio, allows ivermectin suitable for human use to be sold without a prescription in Arkansas. In practice that means a licensed Arkansas pharmacy may sell it to you without a prescriber's order — not that you will find it on a shelf next to the cold medicine.

If you are trying to work out what that means at the counter, it helps to separate three different questions: what federal law says, what Arkansas law permits, and what any individual pharmacy has actually decided to stock. Our overview of ivermectin's over-the-counter status explains the federal picture in more depth, and our guide to how human ivermectin is sold covers the retail and mail-order channels that exist nationally. Everything below was last verified on September 26, 2026; state pharmacy rules and prices change often, so re-check before you rely on it.

Key takeaways

  • Arkansas Act 396 (2025) permits ivermectin for human use to be sold without a prescription or a consultation with a health care professional, according to the bill text summarized by LegiScan and state news coverage.
  • Federal law is unchanged: the FDA still treats human oral ivermectin as prescription-only, and Arkansas pharmacists publicly raised that conflict when the bill was signed.
  • The state law is permissive, not mandatory — pharmacies can and do decline to stock or dispense it.
  • Ivermectin products sold at farm stores and co-ops are labeled for animal use only and are not approved for people; the FDA warns never to use animal medications on yourself.
  • Ivermectin is FDA-approved for certain parasitic infections. It is not approved for COVID-19, and published trials have not shown a benefit for that use.

Is ivermectin available over the counter in Arkansas?

A pharmacist's hands counting tablets on a stainless steel tray next to an amber prescription vial, representing pharmacist dispensing rules.

Legally, under Arkansas law, yes — a pharmacy in the state may sell human ivermectin without a prescription. Practically, "over the counter" here means behind the counter: you ask a pharmacist, and the pharmacist decides whether to sell it. There is no consumer-facing OTC package with a federal Drug Facts label for oral ivermectin tablets, because no such product has been approved for non-prescription sale nationally.

One narrow exception is worth knowing. Ivermectin 0.5% lotion, a single-use topical treatment for head lice, was switched from prescription to non-prescription status and is sold over the counter nationwide, as reported by Drug Topics. That product is for head lice applied to the scalp and hair — it is not a substitute for oral tablets and has nothing to do with the Arkansas law.

Arkansas is one of a small group of states that moved in this direction. Trade coverage in Pharmacy Times and MedPage Today notes Tennessee was first, in 2022, followed in 2025 by Arkansas, Idaho and Louisiana, with Texas added later. Each law is worded differently, which is why access looks different from state to state — compare our pages on ivermectin in Tennessee and the situation in Texas.

What the Arkansas law actually allows (pharmacist dispensing, age limits, effective date)

A pharmacist hands a small white paper prescription bag to a customer across a pharmacy counter in Arkansas.

The wording of the statute

The operative language, as quoted in reporting on Senate Bill 189, is that "ivermectin suitable for human use may be sold or purchased as an over-the-counter medication in this state without a prescription or consultation with a healthcare professional." Two words matter: may, and human use. The law creates permission for sellers; it does not require any pharmacy to participate, and it does not touch veterinary products.

Pharmacist dispensing and age limits

Arkansas took a lighter-touch approach than several other states. It does not, in the text reported by LegiScan and MedPage Today, build in a standing order, a mandatory counseling step, or an explicit age floor. Contrast that with Louisiana's Act 464, whose enrolled text on the state legislature's site says a pharmacist may dispense ivermectin to a person "eighteen years of age or older" under a standing order from the state health department, with required patient information and an allowance for an administrative fee. Texas House Bill 25, per the Texas Legislature's own bill analysis, authorizes pharmacist dispensing without a prescription in line with protocols issued by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.

Because Arkansas's law is silent on age, individual pharmacies commonly set their own policy — often adults only, and often with a short screening conversation about other medicines you take. Ask before you go.

Effective date

Sanders signed the bill on March 25, 2025, as reported by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, KATV and UALR Public Radio. Arkansas acts from the 2025 regular session that did not carry an emergency clause generally took effect in early August 2025; legislative summaries of that session cite August 4, 2025 as the general effective date. For the definitive date and text, check the bill's page on the Arkansas General Assembly site.

The federal conflict pharmacists flagged

When the bill was signed, Arkansas pharmacy leaders told KATV that the state law sits awkwardly beside federal law, under which the FDA has approved human ivermectin only as a prescription drug. That unresolved tension is the single biggest reason a pharmacist may say no even though the state says they could say yes.

Where to buy ivermectin locally in Arkansas

A gloved hand holds a plastic veterinary paste syringe, the type of animal-only ivermectin product sold at farm stores.

There is no statewide list of participating pharmacies, and availability shifts. Reporting from Texas — where a similar "may dispense" law took effect — found that many large chains simply opted out, leaving customers calling around. Expect the same pattern in Arkansas.

Channel What to expect
Independent and compounding pharmacies Most likely to participate; call first and ask specifically whether they dispense human ivermectin without a prescription under Act 396.
Chain pharmacies Often decline on corporate policy grounds, citing federal prescription status. Policies vary by store.
Mail-order and online pharmacies Legitimate ones are state-licensed and will either require a prescription or route you through a clinician. See our notes on how to evaluate online pharmacies safely.
Farm supply stores and co-ops Sell ivermectin pastes, drenches and injectables labeled for animal use only — not approved for people.

About farm stores, co-ops and "horse paste"

During the legislative debate, a House sponsor pointed to agricultural co-ops as places Arkansans were already buying ivermectin, according to UALR Public Radio. Those products are labeled for animal use only and are not approved for human use. The FDA's position, quoted in Pharmacy Times, is that animal ivermectin products are different formulations, their safety in humans is unknown, and people should never use medications intended for animals. Concentration, excipients and dosing devices are all designed for animals many times a person's weight, which makes accurate human dosing guesswork.

If you still need a prescription: telehealth options

An open laptop angled away during a telehealth visit with a notepad, pen, printed receipt and amber pill vial in the foreground.

If no nearby pharmacy will sell without a prescription, the conventional route still exists: a clinician licensed in Arkansas evaluates you and, if appropriate, writes a prescription that any pharmacy can fill. Arkansas permits telemedicine visits with an Arkansas-licensed provider, and most major telehealth services and many local clinics offer them.

A few practical points:

  • A prescriber is not obliged to write for ivermectin, particularly for uses the FDA has not approved. Many will decline and discuss alternatives.
  • Bring a full list of your medicines. Ivermectin interacts with some drugs, and dosing for approved parasitic indications is weight-based.
  • Be wary of any website that ships prescription medicine with no clinician involvement at all. Verify licensure through the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy before paying anyone.

What it costs in Arkansas

Cash prices for generic ivermectin tablets move around and differ between pharmacies in the same town, so the honest answer is to get a quote. We were not able to verify a current Arkansas-specific price at the time of writing, and we would rather say that than print a stale number. Check a price-comparison tool such as GoodRx and then confirm by phone with the pharmacy, since discount-card prices and counter prices often differ.

Cost component Notes
Medication (cash price) Varies by pharmacy, tablet strength and quantity; ask for the price of the exact course you need.
Pharmacy service or administrative fee Some states' laws expressly allow a fee on top of drug cost — Louisiana's does. Arkansas's law does not address pricing, so any fee is the pharmacy's own.
Telehealth visit Applies only if you go the prescription route; typically a flat self-pay fee.
Insurance Plans generally cover FDA-approved indications with a prescription. A no-prescription counter sale is normally an out-of-pocket purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Can you buy ivermectin over the counter in Arkansas without seeing a doctor?

Under Act 396, state law permits it, and the statute's wording does not require a consultation. Whether it happens depends entirely on whether the pharmacy you visit chooses to sell it.

Where can I buy ivermectin over the counter in Arkansas right now?

There is no official directory. Independent pharmacies are the most likely to participate; call ahead and ask directly. Chains frequently decline.

Is there an age limit?

Arkansas's law, unlike Louisiana's 18-and-over rule, does not set one in the reported text. Individual pharmacies may still restrict sales to adults.

Does ivermectin treat COVID-19?

No. The FDA has not approved ivermectin for COVID-19, and as Pharmacy Times summarizes the evidence, trials have not shown efficacy against the virus. It is approved for certain parasitic infections.

Is the farm-store version the same drug?

It contains ivermectin, but the products are labeled for animal use only and are not approved for human use. The FDA advises never using animal medications on people.

Has anything changed in 2026?

As of September 26, 2026, Arkansas's 2025 law remains the operative state rule and oral human ivermectin remains prescription-only federally. Other states continue to file similar bills, including pending measures in South Carolina. Not all of them pass: Utah's HB 96 failed in the House Health and Human Services Committee in February 2026, according to KSL and Axios Salt Lake City. The national map keeps shifting.

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