Topline
Joe Rogan, podcast host, tested positive for coronavirus earlier in the year and is now treating it with ivermectin. This unapproved drug, which health officials had warned Covid-19 patients to avoid, was supported by Rogan, he stated Wednesday.
Joe Rogan, commentator, watches the UFC Fight Night at Prudential Center in Newark on April 18, 2015,... [+] 2015. Getty Images
The Key Facts
Rogan posted an Instagram video Wednesday stating that he had tested positive for Covid-19 following a weekend of fever. He then immediately started throwing the kitchen sink at it and listed ivermectin and monoclonal antibody as well as several other medications. The Food and Drug Administration advised Americans not to take ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug commonly used in animals for Covid-19. However, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have cautioned patients about taking it on their behalf. Rogan claimed that his symptoms had improved this week, and that he feels much better. However, he delayed a Friday comedy show because of the possibility of complications. He didn't say if he was vaccinated against Covid-19. Spotify, which distributes Rogans podcasts, didn't immediately respond to a request.
Important Background
Despite little evidence that it is effective against Covid-19 in clinical trials, ivermectin has been the subject of much attention in recent months. According to the CDC, prescriptions for ivermectin are up since July. Some poison control hotlines reported a spike in people ingesting forms for farm animals. The FDA warned against this practice by tweeting: "You are not a horse." You're not a cow. Seriously. You're all crazy. Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticised federal regulators for failing to endorse ivermectin in the earlier part of this year. The drug has been mentioned on Tucker Carlson's Fox News show, Sean Hannity's Fox News show. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), reportedly said last week that ivermectin was not sufficiently studied because of Trump hatred. Rogan also discussed the topic with Dr. Pierre Kory, Bret Weinstein, two backers, in June.
Tangent
Rogan, one of the most prominent podcast hosts in the country, has made dubious claims regarding Covid-19. He told listeners in April that healthy and young people don't need to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. This drew strong criticism from health professionals and public officials who said healthy people could still transmit Covid-19. Rogan partially refuted his statement, claiming that he wasn't anti-vaccine. He also called himself a f***ing moron who is not respected as an information source for me.
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Ivermectin Widely Used To Treat Covid-19, Despite Not Being ProvenIs Being Studied in The U.K. As A Possible Treatment (Forbes).
Ivermectin cannot treat Covid-19 (Forbes).
More Mississippians are using Ivermectin for Livestock against Covid-19, then calling poison control (Forbes).
