In Tennessee, a unique situation has emerged regarding the availability of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin. Since 2022, the state has allowed adults to purchase ivermectin directly from pharmacies without needing a prior consultation with a doctor. This policy, enacted under a Republican supermajority, permits pharmacies to utilize a pre-written prescription to dispense the drug to nearly anyone who enters their premises. As a result, ivermectin is now widely accessible across the state, ranging from roadside shops to small-town strip malls, often with minimal oversight from health authorities.
Highway billboards promote ivermectin with messages such as “Available Without a Prescription in Tennessee!” while numerous pharmacies offer highly concentrated pills, sometimes at 10 or 20 times the potency of a standard tablet. Originally developed for treating parasitic infections in humans and commonly used as a dewormer for animals, ivermectin gained significant attention during the pandemic when it was falsely promoted by certain fringe doctors and anti-vaccine advocates as a potential treatment for Covid-19. However, clinical trials have demonstrated that ivermectin is ineffective against the virus.
Despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting its efficacy beyond treating parasitic infections, ivermectin has evolved into a symbol of resistance against the medical establishment, especially among conservatives and adherents of the Make America Healthy Again movement, which is supported by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Timothy Caulfield, a professor at the University of Alberta specializing in health misinformation, notes that ivermectin has become an ideological flag, allowing influencers to target a captured audience with unproven claims about its effectiveness for various ailments.
Following a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship earlier this year, some social media accounts and right-wing figures, including former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, have propagated unverified claims about ivermectin's effectiveness against the virus. The World Health Organization has stated there is no research indicating that ivermectin is an effective treatment for hantavirus.
Pharmacies in Tennessee now market ivermectin as a treatment for a variety of conditions, including long haul vax symptoms, diabetes, and cancer, despite the absence of evidence supporting its effectiveness for these purposes. The new law provides pharmacists with immunity from lawsuits or professional sanctions related to ivermectin. This legislative action has sparked discussions about similar proposals in other states, with over two dozen considering analogous measures to make the drug available without requiring a doctor's visit.
Concerns have arisen about the potential impact of widespread ivermectin use. John Mafi, a UCLA internal medicine physician who has studied the rise of ivermectin among cancer patients, warns that promoting unproven therapies might divert individuals from established, effective treatments. His research indicates a notable increase in the prescribing rates of ivermectin and another antiparasitic drug, particularly in the Southern United States. This surge coincided with a January 2025 episode of the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast where actor Mel Gibson claimed that ivermectin and other drugs had cured three friends with stage 4 cancer.
The FDA cautions that ivermectin can be hazardous in large doses, and there has been a modest yet troubling increase in reports of its misuse in Tennessee. The Tennessee Poison Center has documented more than 60 calls related to ivermectin exposure, highlighting the need for caution and further investigation into its usage patterns and associated risks.
Meanwhile, the broader landscape of American healthcare policy continues to evolve, influenced by various stakeholders and initiatives aimed at addressing issues such as high drug prices and vaccine hesitancy. These developments underscore the complex interplay between public health, regulatory frameworks, and societal beliefs surrounding medical treatments and preventive care.
2 reports
STAT NewsIndependentLeftFactual 75Objective 6015 days agoTennessee allows pharmacies to sell ivermectin without a prescription using a pre-written blanket prescription. The drug, approved by the FDA for parasitic infections, has been heavily marketed in the state despite clinical evidence showing it is ineffective against COVID-19. Ivermectin has gained popularity among conservative groups and anti-vaccine advocates, including supporters of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement. Some pharmacies sell highly concentrated versions of the drug, sometimes at 10 or 20 times the standard potency.
Bias read (Left): The article highlights the promotion of ivermectin by anti-vaccine activists and conservative groups, particularly those aligned with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while emphasizing clinical evidence that disproves its efficacy for COVID-19. The framing underscores skepticism toward unproven treatments and
Why these scores (Factual 75 · Objective 60): The article accurately describes Tennessee's policy allowing ivermectin sales without a prescription and mentions clinical trials showing no efficacy against Covid. However, it leans into ideological framing around 'anti-vaccine doctors' and 'Make America Healthy Again' movement, which introduces bi
The Daily WireIndependentRightFactual 60Objective 5018 days agoThe article discusses President Donald Trump's efforts to reduce high prescription drug prices through the expansion of the TrumpRx discount program, which now covers over 800 medications. It highlights the administration's focus on reducing bureaucratic delays at the FDA, citing examples of rapid drug approvals under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The piece also references a study by economist Tomas Philipson.
Bias read (Right): The article presents Trump's actions in a positive light, emphasizing his achievements without significant counterbalance. It uses favorable descriptors such as 'Make America Healthy Again' and frames the administration's actions as successful solutions to longstanding problems. The personal anecdot
Why these scores (Factual 60 · Objective 50): The article contains some factual elements about Trump's drug pricing policies and FDA approval speeds but uses emotionally charged language like 'quiet war' and frames the narrative in a pro-Trump, anti-establishment manner, reducing objectivity.
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