The 69-year-old actor opened up on Joe Rogan's podcast about his harrowing experience with remdesivir in 2020.

He revealed that he got Covid soon after his gardener contracted the virus, and they both went to the same hospital and were given the antiviral medication.

Manufactured by California-based Gilead Sciences Inc, the medication was the first one approved for emergency use in the US to treat severely ill Covid patients. 

But Gibson suggests the drug, which is administered via an IV infusion, 'killed' his gardener and friend of 20 years, while he was left with severe side effects. 

He revealed on Rogan's show: [My gardener and I] both went to the same hospital and he died and I didn't. I think we both got remdesivir which is not good. 

'I couldn't walk for three months after I had that stuff... because it kills you. I found that afterwards, it kills you.'

According to the Cleveland Clinic, remdesivir has a number of side effects including allergic reactions, breathing problems, diarrhea and nausea - but not paralysis or muscle weakness. 

Remdesivir can cause confusion and faintness which could make walking difficult. 

By contrast, Covid itself is known to impact the nervous system in rare cases and cause movement issues.

Scientists from the NIH explain on the government agency's website that after an initial infection, people who have had Covid may develop a variety of inflammatory syndromes affecting the brain, spinal cord, or nerves.