Cancer Patients More Than Double Ivermectin Prescriptions After 2025 Podcast Claims

3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 17

JAMA data showed ivermectin prescriptions among cancer patients more than doubled in the first half of 2025 after a Joe Rogan podcast episode featured Mel Gibson touting apparent recoveries.
No confirmatory clinical trial has shown ivermectin works against cancer, doctors said, and the FDA has not approved the antiparasitic drug for either cancer or COVID-19 treatment.
Doctors warned the trend could lead patients to delay proven therapies, while unsupervised use raises overdose risks including seizures, coma and, in rare cases, death.
America's 53 poison centers reported ivermectin-related calls doubled between 2024 and 2025, underscoring how social-media-fueled interest has outpaced evidence.

Sources

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