There's been an issue sourcing horse paste here because apparently the manufacturer isn't geared to producing it in quantities required for the increasing non-equine needs. So I started looking into making up my own ivermectin topical in case it's needed in the future.
Since ivermectin doesn't dissolve in water, a solvent is used. Typically that's methanol or ethanol in commercial applications, but ivermectin does dissolve in DMSO.
Apparently since ivermectin is lipophilic (fat soluble) an alternate mixture that might work is using coconut oil or tallow as the base for ivermectin and DMSO. I'm leaning towards using organic coconut oil because it is readily available off the shelf and my skin seems to absorb it readily. Next emulsifier might be helpful to prevent separation of the ingredients over time and it looks like beeswax might be the best option.
Some examples of recipes for an approximate 2% ivermectin cream:
1, Dissolve 2g ivermectin powder in 10–20 mL pure DMSO (as before—stir/gently warm until clear).
2. Warm 80–90g coconut oil (virgin or refined) to liquid state (low heat, ~80–100°F/27–38°C) in a glass container.
3. Slowly stir the ivermectin-DMSO solution into the warm coconut oil until fully incorporated (it should blend evenly).
4. Optional: Add a small amount of beeswax (5–10g, melted) for a thicker, more cream-like texture that holds better on skin.
5. Let cool—store in a glass jar.
An example for adjusting for higher concentrations of DMSO for those who prefer:
1. Dissolve 2g ivermectin powder in 50mL DMSO first (gentle warming/stirring until clear).
2. Warm 50g coconut oil (virgin or refined) to liquid (~80–100°F/27–38°C) in a glass container.
3. Optionally melt in 5–10g beeswax for better thickness and to prevent separation (highly recommended for stability).
4. Slowly add DMSO/ivermectin mix while stirring continuously (use a glass rod or whisk).
5. Continue stirring until uniform (it may look milky or slightly separated at first but emulsifies better as it cools).
6. Let cool—store in a glass jar. It will solidify into a soft balm.
Since the coconut oil is likely to solidify in cooler weather, it might need to be gently warmed for application.
Since ivermectin doesn't dissolve in water, a solvent is used. Typically that's methanol or ethanol in commercial applications, but ivermectin does dissolve in DMSO.
Apparently since ivermectin is lipophilic (fat soluble) an alternate mixture that might work is using coconut oil or tallow as the base for ivermectin and DMSO. I'm leaning towards using organic coconut oil because it is readily available off the shelf and my skin seems to absorb it readily. Next emulsifier might be helpful to prevent separation of the ingredients over time and it looks like beeswax might be the best option.
Some examples of recipes for an approximate 2% ivermectin cream:
1, Dissolve 2g ivermectin powder in 10–20 mL pure DMSO (as before—stir/gently warm until clear).
2. Warm 80–90g coconut oil (virgin or refined) to liquid state (low heat, ~80–100°F/27–38°C) in a glass container.
3. Slowly stir the ivermectin-DMSO solution into the warm coconut oil until fully incorporated (it should blend evenly).
4. Optional: Add a small amount of beeswax (5–10g, melted) for a thicker, more cream-like texture that holds better on skin.
5. Let cool—store in a glass jar.
An example for adjusting for higher concentrations of DMSO for those who prefer:
1. Dissolve 2g ivermectin powder in 50mL DMSO first (gentle warming/stirring until clear).
2. Warm 50g coconut oil (virgin or refined) to liquid (~80–100°F/27–38°C) in a glass container.
3. Optionally melt in 5–10g beeswax for better thickness and to prevent separation (highly recommended for stability).
4. Slowly add DMSO/ivermectin mix while stirring continuously (use a glass rod or whisk).
5. Continue stirring until uniform (it may look milky or slightly separated at first but emulsifies better as it cools).
6. Let cool—store in a glass jar. It will solidify into a soft balm.
Since the coconut oil is likely to solidify in cooler weather, it might need to be gently warmed for application.
