Cancer Patients’ Ivermectin Prescriptions More Than Doubled After 13 Million-View Rogan Episode
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 12
Cancer Patients’ Ivermectin Prescriptions More Than Doubled After 13 Million-View Rogan Episode
5 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 12
Prescriptions for ivermectin and fenbendazole among cancer patients more than doubled from January through July 2025 versus the same period a year earlier, according to a JAMA Network Open study published Tuesday.
The jump followed Mel Gibson’s January 2025 appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where he claimed three friends with Stage 4 cancer were cured by the drugs; the YouTube episode has topped 13 million views.
Researchers said there is no high-quality evidence that ivermectin benefits cancer patients, and fenbendazole is not approved for human use.
The highest prescribing rates were among men, white patients and people in the U.S. South, raising oncologists’ concerns that some patients could delay proven cancer treatments.
The findings add to evidence that podcasts, influencers and other online sources are increasingly shaping medical decisions, especially for younger Americans seeking health information.
What failures in conventional care drive desperate cancer patients to embrace dangerous, unproven drugs?
As celebrity medical advice goes viral, what legal responsibility do platforms and influencers face for the resulting patient harm?
If simple dismissal fails, how can doctors regain trust and guide patients away from harmful internet fads?