A Case of Pharmaceutical Messianism Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Infodemiological Study of Ivermectin in the Philippines

Abstract

Pharmaceutical messianism is a manifestation of medical populism. It arises during extraordinary crises, is built on the familiar, endorsed by heterodox authorities, and involves a highly accessible panacea. Amid the politics and public desperation in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmaceutical messianism can be observed in the form of Ivermectin, a panacea offered to prevent and treat COVID-19. Thus, it may be worthwhile to determine the changes and patterns of public interest toward Ivermectin. This infodemiological study utilized and described Search Volume Index and related queries for Ivermectin from Google Trends vis-à-vis reported societal events in the Philippines to determine changes in public interest in Ivermectin use. It revealed that a tremendous increase in public interest in Ivermectin has emerged during surges of COVID-19 cases, endorsement by politicians and heterodox health authorities, and public distribution of Ivermectin. It also showed that public interest increased as the number of component characteristics of pharmaceutical messianism increased. Search-related queries and topics also showed that the public might be using the internet to inform themselves regarding the use of Ivermectin for humans, including its use for COVID-19. These findings suggest that people may study the endorsed panacea and weigh it against conventional and orthodox treatment during rising COVID-19 cases. Thus, easily understandable, highly searchable, reliable, and trustworthy online information is ever-crucial in this age of information and disinformation.

Therapeutic Messianism: Belladonna for Heroin Withdrawal, Ivermectin for COVID-19 Infection

“…Lambert's belladonna treatment for heroin withdrawal is just one example of pharmacological messianism , a construct recently proposed by analysts of therapeutic interventions for COVID-19 infection. 5,6 As defined by Lasco and Yu in 2022 6 and paraphrased by us here, the phenomenon has 4 main components: it emerges in time of heath crisis; builds on already existing practices and/or knowledge; is suggested and supported by orthodox, but often heterodox, physicians with recognized or self-proclaimed authority; and promotes accessible and affordable medications.…”

“…The off-label use of ivermectin for COVID-19 infection has been interpreted as an appeal to populism, offering “a simple solution to a complex problem,” 5,6 a position compatible with the messianic promise that is of utmost importance for understanding the message of most major religions, a promise that will become reality after a battle. In the case of therapeutic messianism, the battle is between the “agents of the establishment,” 17 reputed physicians and research institutions, elected officials and high-ranking technocrats, mainstream media, and a large part of the population and the “agents of change,” heterodox physicians, science skeptics, opposition politicians, 18 and “antielite” members of the media and the public.…”