Ivermectin tablets are not a true over-the-counter product in Louisiana, but since 2025 adults have been able to get them at a Louisiana pharmacy without seeing a doctor first. Act 464 of the 2025 legislative session created R.S. 37:1218.3, which lets a pharmacist dispense ivermectin to anyone 18 or older under a statewide standing order issued by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). The law took effect June 20, 2025.
The practical difference matters. Ivermectin is still a federally prescription-only drug, so you will not find it on a shelf next to ibuprofen. You ask the pharmacist, complete a short screening form, show ID, and the pharmacist dispenses it under the state standing order — a model often lumped in with the broader state OTC ivermectin laws, though "prescription-free pharmacist dispensing" is more accurate. Everything below was last verified on September 26, 2026; Louisiana's standing order has already been reissued once, so confirm current terms with your pharmacy before you go.
Key takeaways
- Louisiana adults 18 and older can obtain ivermectin tablets from a pharmacist without a prescription under Act 464 of 2025, effective June 20, 2025.
- It is not shelf-stock OTC. Ivermectin remains a federal prescription drug dispensed from behind the counter under an LDH standing order.
- The current standing order, issued by the Louisiana Surgeon General on April 29, 2026, caps dispensing at 25 tablets per adult patient and requires a signed screening risk assessment.
- Insurers are not required to cover ivermectin dispensed this way, and pharmacists may add an administrative fee, so expect to pay cash.
- FDA has not approved ivermectin for COVID-19 or any viral infection, and veterinary ivermectin products are labeled for animal use only and are not approved for people.
Is ivermectin available over the counter in Louisiana?
Functionally, yes for adults — legally, not quite. Louisiana did not reclassify ivermectin as an over-the-counter medicine, because states cannot change a drug's federal prescription status. What Louisiana did was authorize pharmacist dispensing under a standing order, which removes the need for an individual prescription from your own clinician.
So if you are asking "can you buy ivermectin over the counter in Louisiana," the honest answer is that you can buy it without a prescription, but only by speaking to a pharmacist, only if you are 18 or older, and only in limited quantity. If you walk into a drugstore expecting to grab a box unassisted, you will be disappointed.
Louisiana is one of a small group of states that moved this direction. Pharmacy Times reported that Arkansas (Act 396, March 2025) and Idaho (SB 1211, April 2025) passed comparable laws in the same period, following Tennessee. Rules differ by state, which is why the details for ivermectin in Florida or for ivermectin in Georgia do not transfer to Louisiana.
What "prescription-free" does not mean
It does not mean the drug is newly approved for new uses. Ivermectin's FDA-approved human indications remain narrow: certain parasitic worm infections in tablet form, plus topical products for head lice and rosacea. The FDA states it has not approved or authorized ivermectin for preventing or treating COVID-19, and the former NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines panel recommended against its use for COVID-19 treatment. Access law and evidence are separate questions.
What the Louisiana law actually allows (pharmacist dispensing, age limits, effective date)
Here is what the statute and the standing order set out, per the text of Act 464 and the LDH standing order information sheet.
| Provision | What it says |
|---|---|
| Effective date | Act 464 of 2025, effective June 20, 2025 |
| Who may dispense | A licensed pharmacist, under a standing order from an LDH health care professional with prescriptive authority |
| Age limit | 18 and older; the pharmacist must verify age |
| Quantity limit | Maximum 25 tablets per adult patient under the current standing order |
| Paperwork | Patient completes and signs a screening risk assessment; pharmacy retains the signed copy and gives the patient a take-home information sheet |
| Cost add-ons | Pharmacist may charge an administrative fee in addition to ingredient cost and dispensing fee |
| Liability | Good-faith pharmacists receive immunity from Board of Pharmacy discipline and civil liability, except for gross negligence or willful misconduct |
| Insurance | No insurer is required to cover ivermectin dispensed under this section |
The standing order has changed once already
The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy's October 2025 state newsletter noted that LDH issued its first statewide ivermectin standing order on September 24, 2025 — three months after the law took effect. The version currently posted by the Office of the Surgeon General is dated April 29, 2026 and is signed by Surgeon General Evelyn Griffin, MD. Because the terms sit in an administrative order rather than the statute, quantity limits and screening questions can be revised without a new law.
Screening can rule you out
The information sheet states that if you answer "no" to the eligibility questions or "yes" to any contraindication question — including known allergy or hypersensitivity to ivermectin or other avermectin derivatives — the pharmacist will not dispense under the standing order and directs you to seek individualized medical care instead. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, significant liver disease, seizure history and certain interacting medicines are the kinds of issues the screening exists to catch.
Where to buy ivermectin locally in Louisiana
Your realistic options are ordinary Louisiana pharmacies: independents and regional chains, plus the pharmacy counters at national chains and supermarkets. Two things determine whether a given store will actually hand it over: whether that pharmacy has chosen to participate in the standing order program, and whether it stocks ivermectin tablets at all.
- Call first and be specific. Ask whether the pharmacy dispenses ivermectin tablets under the LDH standing order, and whether it has stock on hand today. Participation is permitted, not required.
- Independent pharmacies are often the faster route. Corporate chains sometimes route these requests through internal policy review, and individual pharmacists retain professional discretion to decline.
- Bring photo ID. Age verification is a standing-order requirement, not a courtesy.
- Expect to fill out the form in person. The signed screening sheet has to be retained by the pharmacy.
- Expect a small quantity. Twenty-five tablets is the ceiling per patient under the current order.
One category to rule out entirely: ivermectin sold in feed stores, farm-supply aisles and tack shops as horse paste, cattle pour-on, injectable or "drench" products. These are labeled for animal use only and are not approved for use in people. The FDA has warned that these formulations are highly concentrated for animals weighing a thousand pounds or more, that people have been hospitalized after taking them, and that they may contain inactive ingredients never evaluated for humans. That guidance has not changed, and Louisiana's law does not touch it. Our broader guide on legitimate channels for buying ivermectin works through the options state by state.
If you still need a prescription: telehealth options
You still need a prescription in Louisiana if you are under 18, if the screening tool flags a contraindication, if you need more than 25 tablets or a repeat supply, if you want a topical formulation such as ivermectin cream or lotion, or if you simply cannot find a participating pharmacy nearby.
In those cases, a licensed Louisiana clinician is the path. Telehealth is legal in Louisiana for prescribing non-controlled drugs, and ivermectin is not a controlled substance. A video or phone visit with a clinician holding a Louisiana license can produce a prescription sent electronically to a pharmacy of your choice — which is also how the online and telehealth process works for most people using legitimate services: a real consultation, then a mail-order or local pharmacy fill.
Warning signs of an illegitimate seller
- No prescription required and no clinician consultation of any kind
- No verifiable US pharmacy license or physical address
- Bulk quantities far above any approved dosing
- Payment only by wire, crypto or gift card
- Claims that the product treats or prevents COVID-19, cancer or "most viruses" — claims no US regulator has approved
Products from unlicensed sellers may be counterfeit, mislabeled, contaminated or wrongly dosed. A prescription from a real clinician filled at a licensed pharmacy remains the only way to know what you are actually taking.
What it costs in Louisiana
Ivermectin tablets are generic, but cash prices vary widely by pharmacy and by tablet strength. Prices below were checked on September 26, 2026 and are national averages, not Louisiana-specific quotes — your local number may differ.
| Source | Quantity and strength | Reported price |
|---|---|---|
| GoodRx | Most common version | About $69.54 average retail; as low as $22.66 with a GoodRx coupon |
| GoodRx | 10 tablets, 3 mg | About $36.55 average retail; about $22.66 with coupon |
| Drugs.com | 20 tablets, 3 mg | From about $77 cash |
| SingleCare | 20 tablets, 3 mg | About $174 average cash; about $45 with a SingleCare coupon |
Three Louisiana-specific cost notes. First, the statute expressly does not require insurers to cover ivermectin dispensed under the standing order, so plan on paying out of pocket. Second, the law allows the pharmacist to add an administrative fee on top of drug cost and the usual dispensing fee, reflecting the screening and recordkeeping work. Third, discount-card prices are built for prescription fills; ask the pharmacy up front whether a coupon can be applied to a standing-order dispense, because it is not guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Is ivermectin over the counter in Louisiana without any paperwork?
No. Louisiana adults can skip the doctor visit, but not the pharmacy screening. You must be 18 or older, show ID, and complete and sign the risk assessment on the LDH information sheet, which the pharmacy keeps on file.
Can a Louisiana pharmacist refuse to dispense it?
Yes. The law permits pharmacist dispensing; it does not compel it. A pharmacist may decline based on the screening results, stock, interactions, or professional judgment, and individual pharmacies may opt out of participating.
How much can I get at one time?
Up to 25 tablets per adult patient under the standing order posted by the Office of the Surgeon General as of April 29, 2026. Larger or repeat supplies require a prescription from a clinician.
Can I buy ivermectin for my child in Louisiana?
Not under this law. The statute is limited to people 18 and older. Anyone younger needs an individual prescription from a pediatric or primary care clinician, who can weight-dose appropriately.
Is horse paste from a Louisiana feed store a legal substitute?
It is sold legally for animals, but it is labeled for animal use only and is not approved for people. The FDA has documented hospitalizations from self-medication with veterinary ivermectin products, which are far more concentrated than human doses and contain inactive ingredients never tested in humans.
Does Louisiana's law mean ivermectin works for COVID-19?
No. State access laws do not evaluate efficacy. The FDA has not approved or authorized ivermectin for COVID-19 in people or animals, and the NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines panel recommended against it for that use. Evidence for antiviral benefit in large randomized trials has not supported the claims made for it.
Will my insurance pay for it?
Possibly if you have a prescription for an approved indication; not necessarily under the standing order. R.S. 37:1218.3 specifically states that no health insurance issuer is required to cover ivermectin dispensed under that section.
Has anything changed recently?
Yes — the standing order itself. LDH issued the first one on September 24, 2025 and the currently posted version is dated April 29, 2026. Other states are still moving: Mississippi lawmakers introduced prescription-free ivermectin bills in January 2026. Verify before you rely on any of these details.
Sources
- Louisiana Legislature — Act No. 464 (2025), enacting R.S. 37:1218.3
- La. R.S. 37:1218.3 — Authorization to dispense ivermectin
- Louisiana Department of Health, Office of the Surgeon General — Standing Order for Pharmacist Dispensing of Ivermectin and patient information sheet
- Louisiana Board of Pharmacy newsletter, October 2025 — Dispensing of Ivermectin
- FDA — Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19
- NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines (archived) — Ivermectin
- Pharmacy Times — Four States Pass Laws Allowing OTC Ivermectin
- GoodRx — Ivermectin prices and coupons
- Drugs.com — Ivermectin price guide
- SingleCare — Ivermectin pricing
- WLBT — Mississippi lawmakers introduce OTC ivermectin legislation (January 2026)