2023-06-07 05:39:00
“Medicines are not ordinary products, let’s not take them lightly. The ANSM is launching a general public campaign on their proper use.
By NB with AFP
© Franck KOBI / MAXPPP / PHOTOPQR/DNA/MAXPPP
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L’The National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) is launching a general public campaign on Wednesday on their proper use, a “major public health issue”. Its slogan: “Medicines are not ordinary products, do not take them lightly. »
“We are the biggest consumers of drugs in Europe, which makes this issue all the more important,” said Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, director general of the ANSM, on Tuesday, presenting this campaign to the press. According to a study conducted in 2021 for the ANSM by the Viavoice Institute, three out of ten French people adapt, by themselves, the dose or duration of the drugs prescribed to them.READ ALSO In the secret garden of the Pierre Fabre laboratories
One in five French people takes higher doses or several drugs at the same time to relieve symptoms more quickly. Nearly one in two French people give medicine to a loved one because they have similar symptoms, one in ten even does it systematically or often. And 34% consider it rather not risky or not at all risky to take an expired medicine. Social networks play “an amplifying role” in this misuse, observed Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil.
The dangers of misuse
However, the consequences of misuse can be “deleterious”, underlines the ANSM. Not respecting the instructions can reduce the effectiveness of the drugs, cause undesirable effects, even aggravation of the disease, underlines the ANSM. For example, in the event of an overdose, paracetamol can lead to serious liver damage, which may require transplants. “Even paracetamol can be dangerous: in the event of an overdose, the person risks their life,” warned Catherine Simonin, administrator at France Assos Santé, associated with the campaign.READ ALSO Medicines: tension is rising in pharmacies
Medicines prescribed or recommended for one person may prove useless or dangerous for another. Not respecting a dose or duration of treatment can also make it ineffective, even dangerous. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin, which are among the most used treatments in self-medication, are for example prohibited in pregnant women. After the 5e months of pregnancy, a single dose can lead to the death of the future baby.
To “reach as many people as possible”, the Medicines Agency is launching a digital campaign, which will be rolled out until the end of the year, on the Internet, YouTube, social networks, streaming platforms, topicality… In a desired “offbeat” tone, it encourages people to adopt four good reflexes: respect the prescription or the advice of the healthcare professional (dose, frequency, duration…), use only medication prescribed or recommended by a healthcare professional, and not by a close relative, do not take several medications at the same time without the advice of a health professional. And finally, pay attention to the modalities and shelf life of the drugs.
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