2023-10-23 05:42:08
The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) is launching an alert about cold tablets, revealed this Sunday franceinfo et The Parisian. The ANSM advises the French against using certain vasoconstrictor drugs, the aim of which is therefore to unblock the nose, because they are likely to cause heart and stroke accidents. Doctor Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, director of the ANSM, clarified the reasons for this warning on franceinfo this Monday morning. “There is a risk of very rare, but very very serious adverse effects,” she indicated.
Pharmacists called upon to advise against them to their clients
It is the cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine which are in question. These include, for example, the drugs Actifed, Dolirhume, Nurofen, Humex and Rhinadvil. In all, three million boxes were sold last year.
An investigation is underway at European level. Every year, a few patients suffer from strokes and heart attacks after swallowing these cold tablets. The cause and effect link, however, has not been fully established. While awaiting European results, France cannot ban them, but pharmacists are invited, as a precaution, to no longer sell them and to advise against them to their customers. Doctor Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, director of the ANSM, also advises taking the boxes of these medications that they still have at home to their pharmacist.
Less visibility of medications
This type of medication, over the counter, without a prescription, will also become less visible. This is what Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France, explains to franceinfo: “Someone who comes to see us for a cold will not have pharmaceutical advice on this molecule. On the other hand, someone who specifically asks for this molecule will have an opinion saying how effective it is – it clears the nose – and that there is an ongoing investigation to effectively judge potential serious forms”.
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