A member of the Academy of Pharmacy calls for “completely removing cold medications from the market”

If accidents are infrequent, Alain Astier recognizes, “the benefit-risk ratio is extremely unfavorable,” he points out.

“We must completely remove them from the market”asks Friday, November 22 on franceinfo Alain Astier, member of the Academy of Pharmacy, while the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) pleads for the end of the free sale in pharmacies of anti-cold medications, accused since several years of causing serious side effects such as strokes and heart attacks. “It’s high time. It’s been years since many colleagues” in reports “showed the dangerousness and ultimate uselessness of this type of product”he explained.

Actifed, Dolirhume, Rhinadvil, Humex all have in common that they contain the pseudoephedrine molecule which causes vasoconstriction, a narrowing of blood vessels, which can cause strokes and heart attacks. “It is true that these accidents are not very frequent, but the benefit-risk ratio is extremely unfavorable,” he said. According to him, “you have to follow the reasoning through to the end. Either these products have an interest and, at that moment, you have to keep them, or else, they have no interest”SO “we must frankly completely remove them from the market.”

The National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) had already warned last year of the dangerousness of these drugs. “Already avoiding their free access would seem to me to be a big step forward”says Alain Astier. He assures that general practitioners do not prescribe this type of medication: “I don't see the point in a doctor. So why keep him? They're always half-measures, we might as well take it off the market”he says. But this is not so simple, especially since there is disagreement on the subject between French and European health authorities. “In terms of health and for security reasons in particular, a local agency in a European country may deviate from the European rule. We have to go that far.”he encourages.