Why Joe Rogan’s ivermectin Covid cure doesn’t work

A NSW doctor has revealed what the medical benefits are of podcast host Joe Rogan’s supposed cure for Covid-19.

Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au, this week Dr Zac gets into whether Ivermectin can cure Covid-19.

Question: Hi Dr Zac, this week popular podcast host Joe Rogan blasted to his million of followers that a cocktail of unapproved drugs cured his Covid-19. I thought how dumb can you get, and then I see that ivermectin was included in his snake-oil list.

I’ve read stories about people turning up to hospital after overdosing on Ivermectin to try to treat Covid-19 and I can’t believe their stupidity.

I know lots of people are fans of Joe Rogan and I’m worried that his brag will influence whether of not they get vaccinated.

My question to you is, can you please use your platform to explain why Joe Rogan is wrong, and why we need to listen to health officials and not stand-up comedians. – Agitated Anon, 35 Sydney

Answer: Thank you for raising your concern. You need to remind yourself that people are only human and they’re terrified of getting Covid-19. They turn to the internet in their time of need, read misinformation and make the wrong decision.

Joe Rogan’s post is a clear example of why we need to fact-check misinformation and promote channels of correct communication.

Can I just say, there is a reason it takes nearly a decade to become a qualified, specialist doctor in this country. Unless a person has a real degree from a real university, do not take their health advice as gospel. I do not recommend in any shape or form that you self-medicate for Covid-19 like Joe Rogan has, and it’s frustrating I have to say that.

Joe Rogan is a podcast host and not a doctor, which is worth remembering when seeking health advice. Picture: Supplied

For those who are out of the loop, Joe Rogan boldly claimed to his followers that after contracting Covid-19, he took a mixture of unapproved medications and miraculously felt ‘great’. His cocktail included monoclonal antibodies, ivermectin, prednisone, a NAD drip and a vitamin drip. Which is like shooting a hundred basketballs blindfolded at the same time and hoping one goes in but there isn’t a hoop to begin with.

Let’s go through each one of the three main drugs, and why they don’t treat Covid-19.

Ivermectin

Ivermectin is a broad spectrum antiparasitic agent, recommended by the WHO for several diseases such as river blindness and scabies. Now as you correctly stated, this is an antiparasitic drug, not an antiviral drug. This drug has never shown to be able to treat human viral diseases such as Covid-19.

The scary thing is people are attempting to import ivermectin from overseas, but they are buying the version used on animals. This medication will make a person who is already sick, even sicker.

Monoclonal antibodies

In layman’s terms, when someone catches Covid-19 and recovers their body produces antibodies. These are a defence mechanism that can fight the disease if it ever comes back. Scientists have discovered ways to replicate these antibodies in a test tube, which means someone can be treated and receive antibodies for a disease they never had.

Donald Trump received this treatment during his stint in hospital when he contracted Covid-19. But what Rogan and Trump did not mention to the millions of people they spruiked it to is that this treatment is very expensive, and most low and middle-income people could not afford it. And as we have seen, Covid-19 rapidly mutates meaning it’s harder for this medication to be effective.

Donald Trump credited monoclonal antibodies for his recovery from Covid but as a billionaire he could easily afford this treatment. Picture: Win McNamee/Getty Images.

Prednisone

Prednisone is a steroid which lowers the activity of the immune response. Essentially you are slowing down your body’s immune response such as inflammation, fever and swelling, as in extreme cases this can end up damaging organs.

This is actually a very useful medication for Covid-19 patients in ICU who are on their last leg, not extremely mild cases like Rogan had.

The potential harm from using steroids in a hospital include an increased risk of bacterial or fungal infections, hyperglycaemia, acquired muscle weakness and gastrointestinal bleeding. For people with milder cases of Covid-19, taking steroids could mean increasing their risks with little potential benefit.

The moral of the story is you shouldn’t believe everything you read. Take your cues from doctors, health officials and the TGA.

Dr Zac Turner has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney. He is both a medical practitioner and a co-owner of telehealth service, Concierge Doctors, and is also a qualified and experienced biomedical scientist.

Originally published as Why Joe Rogan’s ivermectin Covid cure doesn’t work