DistantNews
Support us
Cancer patients increasingly turn to unproven ivermectin, risking standard treatments
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด Romania /Health & Science

Cancer patients increasingly turn to unproven ivermectin, risking standard treatments

From Adevฤƒrul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A growing number of cancer patients are seeking or using ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug, hoping for anti-cancer effects, despite a lack of solid clinical evidence.
  • A study found prescriptions for ivermectin among cancer patients more than doubled between January and July 2025, partly fueled by viral celebrity endorsements.
  • Medical experts warn that abandoning standard cancer therapies like chemotherapy for unproven treatments like ivermectin can significantly reduce treatment success and carries serious health risks.

An increasing number of cancer patients are turning to ivermectin, an antiparasitic medication, in hopes of treating their cancer. This trend has alarmed the medical community, as there is no substantial clinical evidence to support its efficacy against cancer. Medical professionals caution that foregoing standard oncological treatments, such as chemotherapy, in favor of ivermectin can drastically diminish a patient's chances of successful treatment.

A study analyzing electronic health records of 68 million patients revealed that ivermectin prescriptions for cancer patients more than doubled between January and July 2025. This surge in demand is partly attributed to viral interviews on popular podcasts and endorsements from celebrities. For instance, actor Mel Gibson claimed in a January 2025 interview that a combination of ivermectin and benzimidazole had cured several of his friends' cancers. More recently, former NHL player Ron Duguay stated he was using high doses of ivermectin as part of his treatment for stage 4 colon cancer, though he also acknowledged undergoing chemotherapy.

From what I'm seeing, patients are asking about medications like ivermectin more and more often.

โ€” Dr. Merry Jennifer MarkhamA physician commenting on the increasing patient inquiries about ivermectin.

Dr. Merry Jennifer Markham noted that patients are increasingly inquiring about medications like ivermectin, which allows for informed discussions. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved ivermectin for treating any type of cancer in humans or animals, and no official clinical guidelines recommend it. "It has not been demonstrated in any confirmatory clinical trial, which is the gold standard of evidence we need to know if a treatment works," explained Dr. John Mafi, an associate professor of medicine at UCLA.

The American Cancer Society highlights significant risks associated with ivermectin use, especially at high doses. Potential side effects include seizures, coma, and even death. The dosage required to potentially show any effect in humans would likely be considered toxic.

It has not been demonstrated in any confirmatory clinical trial, which is the gold standard of evidence we need to know if a treatment works.

โ€” Dr. John MafiA professor of medicine at UCLA explaining the lack of scientific evidence for ivermectin's efficacy against cancer.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Adevฤƒrul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog