Alternative Cancer Treatment Requests Explode After Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson Podcast Chat [WATCH]

A new study has found that prescriptions for an alternative combination of antiparasitic drugs increased notably after actor Mel Gibson discussed the treatment on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast, as reported by Fox News.

The episode, which drew massive attention, was cited by researchers as a key factor in the uptick among cancer patients seeking off-label therapies.

During the January 2025 episode, Gibson told Rogan that three of his friends with stage 4 cancer now showed no signs of the disease. When asked what treatment they used, Gibson replied, “Ivermectin, fenbendazole.”

MEL GIBSON: “I have three friends. All three of them had stage four cancer. All three of them don’t have cancer right now at all.”

JOE ROGAN: “What did they take?”MEL GIBSON: “Ivermectin and Fenbendazole.” https://t.co/8STUour7qG pic.twitter.com/AIZ7XoKZHe— Nicolas Hulscher, MPH (@NicHulscher) February 21, 2026

He also said:

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“I don’t believe that there is anything that can afflict mankind that hasn’t got a natural cure for it.”

Following the broadcast, researchers from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, UCLA, and the University of Michigan analyzed health records from more than 68 million patients.

Their study sought to determine whether Gibson’s remarks influenced prescribing behavior.

The team examined same-day prescriptions of ivermectin and a benzimidazole, a class that includes albendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole, and thiabendazole.

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They discovered a sharp and measurable increase immediately after the podcast aired.

According to the researchers, overall prescription rates nearly doubled, rising 2½ times among cancer patients specifically.

The increase was most pronounced among men, White individuals, patients aged 18 to 64, and those living in southern states.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, did not evaluate the safety or effectiveness of ivermectin–benzimidazole combinations. Experts emphasized that no clinical trials have confirmed the drugs’ efficacy in treating cancer.

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medication used to treat infestations in both humans and animals. Fenbendazole is primarily a veterinary medicine used to treat worms in animals and belongs to the benzimidazole class.

The combination has been promoted online as a possible anticancer strategy, though without scientific backing in humans.

Dr. Skyler B. Johnson of the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute noted that while some laboratory and animal studies show potential anticancer effects, the doses required for humans would likely be toxic.

He also cautioned that ivermectin may interfere with how the body processes other cancer treatments and medications.

Lead author Michelle Rockwell of Virginia Tech explained that celebrity influence can complicate clinical communication.

“Clinicians talk about how difficult it is when the patient demands or asks for a medication that they really feel passionately might help,” she said. “And that’s where I think these celebrity influencers really play a big role.”

While researchers observed a strong correlation between the timing of Gibson’s appearance and the spike in prescriptions, they warned that causation could not be proved.

The study was observational, meaning it could not rule out other contributing factors.

The report also noted that prescription orders do not necessarily indicate that patients took the drugs. Some may have been obtained outside pharmacies, especially from livestock suppliers where fenbendazole and ivermectin are commonly sold for animal use.

It remains unclear whether patients who obtained the drugs used them alongside conventional treatments or in their place. The researchers emphasized that such information was not available in the data they reviewed.

Medical professionals continue to urge patients to consult licensed healthcare providers before pursuing alternative or unverified treatments.

They caution that medications effective in one species or setting may not safely translate to human applications.

The phenomenon underscores how high-profile platforms like Rogan’s, which reach tens of millions of viewers, can dramatically sway public health behaviors.

The episode has reportedly been viewed 60 million times in its first month, demonstrating the scale of its influence.

Experts say the findings highlight how powerful celebrity endorsements remain within medical and wellness conversations, especially when tied to emotionally charged conditions like cancer.

At the same time, the study’s limitations reveal how difficult it is to measure precisely how public statements translate into real-world health decisions.

Patients, researchers, and physicians alike continue to navigate the tension between public curiosity about new ideas and the need for treatments rooted in rigorous clinical evidence.

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