2023-12-13 05:00:09
The French have every interest in checking the presence of pharmaceutical products that they use regularly. The Prescrire list, a list of 105 drugs considered more dangerous than useful, 88 of which are marketed in France, is in fact nothing other than a guide for patients and doctors.
Health: the principle of benefit-risk is central to Prescrire’s list
The benefit-risk balance is a fundamental step in the evaluation of drugs. This is also partly what will decide whether or not an active ingredient will be reimbursed by Health Insurance.
A drug is considered dangerous when the risks, particularly serious side effects, outweigh the therapeutic benefits. No wonder that a majority of the drugs presented in the 2023 list of drugs to avoid prescribing essentially attack… to the symptoms and not to the disease itself. This does not necessarily prevent these medications from being partially useful or effective… but it would be better not to take them, especially outside of medical prescriptions.
Health: what medications should you avoid?
Among the medications to avoid reported by Prescrire, we find familiar names like Maxilase, Toplexil, and Vogalene. These medications, used for common symptoms like cough or nausea, pose risks that are disproportionate to their effectiveness.
For example, Maxilase, without proven effectiveness, can cause serious skin or allergic disorders, according to the specialized journal. Toplexil, for its part, is associated with significant adverse effects for symptomatic treatment of cough. As for Vogalene, it exposes you to heart rhythm disorders and strokes.
In addition to Maxilase, Toplexil and Vogalene, the list includes other commonly used medications:
- Actifed Rhume, Dolirhume, Humex Rhume, Nurofen Rhume, Rhinadvil : These cold decongestants contain a vasoconstrictor which can cause serious cardiovascular problems.
- Smecta (Diosmectite) : Used for intestinal disorders, it naturally contains lead, presenting toxic risks.
- Voltarene (Diclofenac) : Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, it is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular adverse effects.
- Vogalib (Metopimazine) : Prescribed for nausea and vomiting, it can cause heart rhythm disturbances and strokes.
- Clarix (Pentoxyvérine) : Used once morest coughs, it presents risks of heart problems and severe allergic reactions.
The (partial) list of medications to be prohibited by Prescrire
| Medicine | Disease Treated | Reasons for Presence in the List |
|---|---|---|
| Maxilase | Sore throat | Without proven effectiveness, risks of skin or allergic disorders |
| Toplexil | Cough | Important adverse effects for symptomatic treatment |
| Vogalene | Nausea, vomiting | Risks of heart rhythm disorders, stroke, sudden death |
| Actifed Rhume, Dolirhume, Humex Rhume, Nurofen Rhume, Rhinadvil | Common cold | Exposure to serious cardiovascular disorders |
| Smecta (Diosmectite) | Intestinal disorders | Presence of lead with toxic risks |
| Voltarene (Diclofenac) | Inflammatory pain | Increased risk of cardiovascular adverse effects |
| Vogalib (Metopimazine) | Nausea, vomiting | Heart rhythm disorders, risk of stroke |
| Clarix (Pentoxyvérine) | Cough | Risks of heart problems, severe allergic reactions |
The full list of drugs is available on the official website of the journal Prescribe.
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#Prescrire #unveils #drugs #banned
