More Cancer Patients Are Taking Ivermectin. Mel Gibson and Joe Rogan Might Be Why.
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- In January 2025, Mel Gibson claimed on Joe Rogan's podcast that three friends with Stage 4 cancer were cured using ivermectin and fenbendazole, despite no high-quality evidence supporting these drugs for cancer treatment.
- Following the podcast episode, prescriptions for ivermectin and fenbendazole surged, particularly among men, white patients, and those in the U.S. South, with cancer patients' prescriptions more than doubling from January to July 2025 compared to the previous year.
- Oncologists expressed concern that patients might delay or avoid proven cancer therapies in favor of these unproven treatments, highlighting the risks of misinformation.
- The rise in prescriptions reflects a broader trend where many U.S. adults under 50 obtain health information from influencers and podcasters, often leading to the rapid spread of health misinformation.
- Experts warn that the easy access to both accurate and inaccurate medical information via social media, podcasts, and AI chatbots complicates medical decision-making and can negatively impact patient outcomes.