Ivermectin\u2013benzimidazole, a combination of antiparasitic medications, was touted as an off-label cancer treatment during actor Mel Gibson\u2019s January 2025 appearance<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gibson spoke about three of his friends who had stage 4 cancer, noting that “all three of them don\u2019t have cancer right now at all.”\u00a0<\/p>\n When Rogan asked what treatments they used, Gibson replied, “Ivermectin, fenbendazole.”<\/p>\n WOMAN WITH CANCER REVEALS THE DIET THAT SHE SAYS SAVED HER LIFE<\/a><\/p>\n Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medication used in humans and animals to treat infections<\/a> caused by certain worms and parasites.<\/p>\n Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson (Getty Images)<\/p>\n Fenbendazole, a veterinary antiparasitic drug used to treat worms in animals, belongs to the benzimidazole class of medications, according to medical sources.<\/p>\n “I don\u2019t believe that there is anything that can afflict mankind that hasn\u2019t got a natural cure for it,” Gibson added.<\/p>\n HIDDEN VIRUS INSIDE GUT BACTERIA LINKED TO DOUBLED COLORECTAL CANCER RISK, STUDY FINDS<\/a><\/p>\n Researchers from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, UCLA and the University of Michigan analyzed the health records<\/a> of over 68 million patients in ambulatory care settings.\u00a0<\/p>\n They checked for increases in same-day prescribing of ivermectin, plus a benzimidazole \u2014 albendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole or thiabendazole \u2014 with the goal of determining whether Gibson\u2019s endorsement resulted in a spike.<\/p>\n Gibson spoke about three of his friends who had Stage 4 cancer, noting “all three of them don\u2019t have cancer right now at all.” When Rogan asked what treatments they used, Gibson replied, “ivermectin, fenbendazole.” (Chris Pizzello)<\/p>\n After the episode, which was viewed 60 million times in the month after airing, overall prescribing rates nearly doubled, rising 2\u00bd times among cancer patients<\/a>.<\/p>\n Among those patients, larger increases were seen in men, White patients, people 18-64 and those who lived in southern states, the researchers found.<\/p>\n “I don\u2019t believe that there is anything that can afflict mankind that hasn\u2019t got a natural cure for it.”<\/p>\n The study, published in JAMA Network Open Tuesday, did not measure any safety outcomes of the drug combination.<\/p>\n No clinical trials<\/a> have supported the safety or effectiveness of ivermectin\u2013benzimidazole for treating cancer, experts noted.<\/p>\n No clinical trials have supported the safety or effectiveness of ivermectin\u2013benzimidazole for treating cancer, experts noted. ((AP Photo\/Mike Stewart))<\/p>\n “Clinicians talk about how difficult it is when the patient demands or asks for a medication that they really feel passionately might help,” lead author Michelle Rockwell, a health services researcher at Virginia Tech, said in a press release. “And that’s where I think these celebrity influencers<\/a> really play a big role.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n While some laboratory and animal studies have shown that these drugs can promote anti-cancer activity<\/a>, the required dose for even a small effect would “typically be considered toxic for humans,” according to Dr. Skyler B. Johnson of the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n Johnson, who was not involved in the research, shared with CIDRAP News his concerns about ivermectin\u2019s effect on how the body processes cancer treatments<\/a> and other medications.<\/p>\n Patients should consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance before making treatment decisions, doctors say. (iStock)<\/p>\n The study did have some limitations, including that it was observational in design and could not prove that Gibson\u2019s appearance led to the increase in prescriptions<\/a>. Also, the fact that prescriptions were ordered does not necessarily mean that they were filled or used.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n It is also possible some patients sought out ivermectin without a prescription, perhaps from agricultural retailers who sell it for livestock.<\/p>\n There is also the potential that cancer status was misclassified, the researchers noted.<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/a><\/p>\n The study also did not assess whether patients were taking ivermectin alongside conventional treatment<\/a> or if they used it as a substitute.<\/p>\n![\"Split](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/joe-rogan-mel-gibson-1.jpg\")
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