Digestion: 7 risky drugs

2016-12-23 13:58:00

In its January 2017 edition, the magazine “60 million consumers” published a study showing that certain medications recommended to facilitate digestion are associated with “severe” risks in addition to being ineffective.

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Bloating, swollen stomach… Many medications are available in pharmacies, without a prescription, for difficult digestion. Before purchasing any treatment, be aware that a study conducted by the magazine 60 million consumers and published in its January 2017 edition proves that out of nine drugs tested in this indication, seven have been linked to risks of “sometimes serious” or “severe” allergies. Among them , six treatments are otherwise not very effective.

Medications: risks of “sometimes serious” allergies

The medicines affected by the risks are the following:

Betaine Citrate UPSA ® 2g sans sucreFormocarbine ®Meteospasmyl ®Météoxane ®Oddibil ®Spasfon ®

These drugs can be used “for lack of anything better”, according to the magazine, but they are “not very effective” and can cause effects such as allergies. Arkocaps Artichoke® is also linked to “reports of allergies that are sometimes serious”.

Beware of medications containing “natural remedies”

The test carried out by the magazine also points out medicines using activated charcoal, fumitory extracts or artichoke leaf powder. “Contrary to their reputation, medicines containing ingredients used as traditional remedies have not proven their effectiveness either” indicates 60 million consumers. Furthermore, “these medications which present themselves as more natural can also expose one to sometimes serious side effects“.

The only medication that would be “preferred” because it carries fewer risks according to the magazine is Digedryl®. Used occasionally (therefore in low doses), this treatment would have no side effects.

>> Find the entire test in the January 2017 edition of 60 million consumers .