10/08/2026
⚠️ Please don’t do this! ⚠️
I was genuinely surprised recently when a patient told me they had heard about taking worming tablets once a year as a “parasite cleanse” to improve gut health. 🪱
I had never come across this trend before, so I looked into it — and it’s definitely something I want to address. 🐛
Worming tablets are medicines, not a gut cleanse. There is no good evidence that routinely taking them will “cleanse” your gut or improve your gut health if you don’t have a parasitic infection. 💩
In Ireland and the UK, medicines such as mebendazole are commonly used to treat threadworm when treatment is actually needed. They should not be taken routinely as an annual “cleanse” just because you’ve seen it recommended on social media.
Taking medication unnecessarily can expose you to side effects and potential interactions with other medicines. Unnecessary use of antiparasitic medicines is also something we should avoid because of concerns around the development of drug resistance.
You may see recommendations from the World Health Organization about preventative deworming in certain parts of the world. These programmes are aimed at populations living in areas where particular parasitic worm infections are widespread — that is very different from recommending an annual parasite cleanse for people in Ireland or the UK. 🌎
Social media can be a great source of information, but health trends aren't always evidence-based — and some can potentially cause harm.
Before taking a medicine because of something you’ve seen on TikTok or Instagram, ask your pharmacist. We can tell you whether you actually need treatment and make sure it's safe and appropriate for you.
Your gut doesn’t need a yearly “parasite cleanse.” 🪱🚫
