Quick answer: Yes, as of December 4, 2025, Texas pharmacists may dispense ivermectin without an individual prescription under HB 25, which passed during the 89th Legislature's second special session. Pharmacists must follow standardized procedures set by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, including a required discussion of possible side effects. This is a change to pharmacist dispensing authority under state law, not a change to what the FDA has approved ivermectin to treat.
What Texas HB 25 Actually Allows
HB 25 lets a licensed Texas pharmacist dispense ivermectin to a patient without that patient first getting an individual prescription from a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Pharmacists dispensing under this authority must follow standardized procedures issued by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP), which include a required conversation about possible side effects before the medication is dispensed. The bill also includes a liability shield: a pharmacist acting in a reasonably prudent manner under TSBP's procedures is not subject to civil, criminal, or professional disciplinary action for dispensing under this authority.
Effective Date: December 4, 2025
HB 25 took effect December 4, 2025. That date looks unusual because most Texas bills from a regular legislative session default to a September 1 effective date, but HB 25 came out of the 89th Legislature's second special session, not the regular session, so the standard September 1 default did not apply. The bill passed on September 17, 2025, with the December 4, 2025 effective date set separately.
Is This True Over-the-Counter Access?
In practical terms, close to it. A patient does not need to see a prescriber first, and the pharmacist is authorized to dispense directly at the counter.
In mechanism, not identical to a shelf product. HB 25 works through a licensed pharmacist following TSBP's standardized procedures, including the side-effects discussion, rather than simply removing ivermectin from prescription status entirely. That is a real, if narrow, distinction from a state where a product is available for sale with no pharmacist involvement at all.
Compare this to Tennessee. Tennessee's law works through a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement, where a pharmacist dispenses under a non-patient-specific prescriptive order that a prescriber has already authorized in advance. Texas's HB 25 does not require that prescriber-authorized order behind each dispensing decision; the pharmacist's authority comes directly from the statute and TSBP's procedures. See Is Ivermectin Over the Counter in Tennessee? for how that mechanism specifically works, and do not treat the two states' laws as interchangeable models.
What This Does Not Change
HB 25 is a state pharmacist-authority law. It does not change the FDA's approved indications for oral ivermectin, which remain intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis only. It does not make ivermectin approved for COVID-19, other viral infections, or cancer, in Texas or anywhere else. And it does not remove the value of a clinical evaluation: a pharmacist dispensing under HB 25 is still required to discuss possible side effects, and a licensed provider's evaluation remains the more thorough path for anyone with a complex health history or current medications.
Getting Ivermectin in Texas Through Telehealth
HB 25 is one path to ivermectin access in Texas. A licensed telehealth evaluation is another, and it is available regardless of what a specific state's pharmacist-dispensing law says. See How to Get Ivermectin for the step-by-step process, and Get an Ivermectin Prescription Online for what an online evaluation specifically involves. Start an intake at 50 Stars Health ivermectin to check eligibility.
Bottom line
- Texas HB 25 lets pharmacists dispense ivermectin without an individual prescription, effective December 4, 2025.
- Pharmacists must follow Texas State Board of Pharmacy procedures, including a required side-effects discussion.
- The December 2025 effective date is correct; it reflects the bill's origin in a special session, not the regular session's September 1 default.
- HB 25 does not change the FDA's approved uses for oral ivermectin or make it approved for COVID-19, other viral infections, or cancer.
- A licensed telehealth evaluation remains available in Texas independent of this law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ivermectin over the counter in Texas?
As of December 4, 2025, Texas pharmacists may dispense ivermectin without an individual prescription under HB 25, following standardized procedures set by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
What is Texas HB 25?
HB 25 is a Texas law, passed during the 89th Legislature's second special session, that authorizes licensed pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without an individual prescription under procedures set by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
Why did HB 25 take effect in December instead of September?
Most Texas bills from a regular session default to a September 1 effective date. HB 25 came from the 89th Legislature's second special session, not the regular session, so that default did not apply. It took effect December 4, 2025 as set by the bill itself.
Do I still need to see a doctor to get ivermectin in Texas?
Not necessarily. Under HB 25, a Texas pharmacist can dispense ivermectin directly. A licensed telehealth evaluation is a separate, also-available path, and may be a better fit if you have a more complex health history.
Does HB 25 mean ivermectin is FDA-approved for more conditions in Texas?
No. HB 25 changes who in Texas can dispense ivermectin without an individual prescription. It does not change the FDA's approved indications for oral ivermectin, which remain intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis only, in every state including Texas.
Is Texas's law the same as Tennessee's?
No. Texas's HB 25 authorizes pharmacists directly under Texas State Board of Pharmacy procedures. Tennessee's law works through a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement, requiring a prescriber-authorized non-patient-specific order behind each pharmacist's dispensing decision. See Is Ivermectin Over the Counter in Tennessee? for detail.
This page is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice, nor a substitute for consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. Ivermectin is a prescription medication approved by the FDA to treat certain parasitic infections. It is not approved to prevent or treat viral infections or cancer. Only a licensed provider can determine whether a treatment is appropriate for you, and prescriptions are issued at the provider's discretion following a clinical evaluation. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality. If you believe you may have a parasitic infection, speak with a healthcare provider. Do not self-treat. In an emergency, call 911.
