Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health Big Pharma Is Paying Doctors to Prescribe Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis
Oct 21, 2025
A revealing analysis highlights that nearly 80% of neurologists receive payments from pharmaceutical companies, influencing their prescribing habits for multiple sclerosis. Even small payments can sway doctors towards particular drugs, mostly from speaking fees. In contrast, managing MS might be aided by smart sun exposure, vitamin D3, and optimizing gut health. Reducing vegetable oil intake and gradually increasing fiber can support better outcomes without relying solely on pharmaceuticals. Patients are encouraged to inquire about financial ties before treatment.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Industry Payments Correlate With Prescribing
- 78.5% of high-prescribing neurologists received industry payments tied to MS drugs, revealing widespread financial ties.
- Payments concentrated on top prescribers and aligned with increased prescriptions for sponsor drugs.
Payments Produce Dose-Dependent Prescribing Effects
- Even small payments influenced prescribing: $50 nudged choices while $5,000 nearly doubled brand preference odds.
- Recent and repeated payments produced the strongest shifts toward sponsor drugs.
Speakerships Build Familiarity And Influence
- Non-consulting fees like speaking engagements made up two-thirds of dollars and build ongoing brand familiarity.
- Neurologists paid by multiple companies prescribed more and received recurring payments, creating feedback loops.