2023-12-12 14:28:01
The magazine Prescrire draws up, as it does every year, its list of drugs “more dangerous than useful”. However, some remain over the counter in pharmacies.
Medications that are ineffective or even dangerous. The medical journal Prescrire publishes its 2024 blacklist, similar to that of last year. In short: these are 105 drugs – 88 marketed in France – whose benefit-risk balance remains “unfavorable in all clinical situations in which they are authorized”. However, some of these 88 medications are available over the counter in pharmacies.
“It is not justified to expose patients to serious adverse effects when clinical effectiveness has not been demonstrated,” writes the monthly.
Because that’s the problem: in addition to their poor results, these medications have side effects, some of which are particularly serious. The review therefore recommends “discarding them to provide better treatment” and turning to other options “when drug treatment seems desirable.”
“And in some situations, the most prudent option is not to resort to medication.”
Considered a reliable source of information on medications, Prescrire has been publishing this list for twelve years with the aim of providing caregivers and patients with “clear, concise, reliable and up-to-date” information.
Vogalene, Vogalib: “disproportionate adverse effects”
Among these treatments to avoid: pharmacy bestsellers. Including oral diclofenac, called Voltarene, which exposes you to an increase in cardiovascular adverse effects – myocardial infarction or heart failure – compared to other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The review also recommends the use of Smecta, although it is widely used in cases of intestinal disorders, due to the natural presence of lead. And recalls: “Lead has neurological, hematological, renal and cardiovascular toxic effects, and reprotoxic effects, most of which increase with the exposure dose”.
Another treatment frequently used for nausea and vomiting: metopimazine, or Vogalene and Vogalib, which exposes you to heart rhythm disorders, strokes and sudden deaths. “Undesirable effects disproportionate to the symptoms treated and their low effectiveness on nausea and vomiting”, denounces the review.
Maxilase: “placebo effect”
Prescrire has also been pointing out for several years decongestants, used for colds, which contain pseudoephedrine. Medications that expose you to “serious or even fatal” cardiovascular disorders. If they are not expressly named, this concerns very well-known products: Actifed cold, Dolirhume, Humex cold, Nurofen cold and Rhinadvil.
Still in the event of a blocked nose sensation, the review also mentions solutions for nasal spray: tuaminoheptane – contained in Rhinofluimucil – but also oxymetazoline – present in Aturgyl – or even naphazoline, sold under the name Derinox.
In the cough syrup section, Prescrire once again denounces oxomemazine, or Toplexil, and pentoxyverine (Clarix).
Another product often used to relieve sore throats but which the review strongly advises against: alpha-amylase, or Maxilase, judged to have “no demonstrated effectiveness beyond that of a placebo”. A medication that can cause skin or allergic disorders that are sometimes serious.
Alternative to Maxilase: “In addition to measures (…) such as drinking water or sucking sweets, paracetamol, by controlling its dosage, is the best option”.
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