Antiparasitic medications, like Ivermectin and fenbendazole are used to treat infections caused by parasites. Recent claims on the internet suggest that these medications can be used to treat cancer instead of chemotherapy or other cancer fighting therapies. Luis Rojas, MD, Clinical Vice President of Avera's Oncology Service Line, explains why antiparasitic drugs are not a substitute for evidence-based care.
Let’s start off with the basics, what are antiparasitic medications?
Antiparasitic medications are like antibiotics are for bacteria, are used to treat parasites. Parasites are live organisms like mites or worms that can come into our bodies and live in a symbiotic environment, meaning they can feed on us, and these medications are meant to kill them.
Now that we know what these medications are, can they be used to treat cancer?
The answer is no. Some of these medications like Ivermectin and another one called fenbendazole, we have seen an increase in patients asking for them, based on anecdotal information. Some of those drugs have been evaluated in the pre-clinical setting, meaning in the lab. However this medication has not been tested at all in phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials, which are the trials used to determine what is effective for humans.
Why are they not recommended as a treatment option?
We don’t have the information that truly tells us that these medications are truly effective in treating cancers. So their effectiveness and their side effect profiles are not completely understood. The problem about these medications is that it is easy to access them. What we also don’t know is how do they interact with a current cancer treatment. Some of those medications may interact negatively by affecting the efficacy of the proven beneficial cancer drug or may actually enhance the toxicities of the cancer drug.
What advice do you have for patients in their cancer journeys?
My advice for patients is that we understand the cancer journey is stressful and that people will seek out all sorts of potential avenues for treatment. Alternative treatments may have a role. The important thing is when you are considering using something that’s not best evidence-based, standard of care treatment, you consult with your oncologist and ask them the question. The oncologist will give you the honest answer on whether that could be beneficial for you as a patient or not.
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