The review Prescribe did the accounts. According to her, 88 drugs available in France are more risky to use than useful for treatment. In its latest annual report, the publication highlights formulas whose benefits are insufficient, non-existent or accompanied by undesirable effects, explains The Dispatch this Monday. All is not lost, since there are alternatives, with more effective drugs or whose effects are less risky for health.
Beware of lead
In total, there are 106 drugs that the review recommends prohibiting. However, not all of them are sold in France. For some of these treatments, Prescrire advises abstaining. This is the case for medicated clays (diosmectite [Smecta]hydrotalcite [Rennieliquo]montmorillonite beidellitique [Bedelix]) not recommended in cases of acute diarrhea, especially in children. Due to natural lead contamination, it is better to opt for clay-free antacids or even omeprazole (Mopral).
Antiemetics (domperidone, droperidol [Doleptan]metopimazine [Vogalène]) are also to be avoided. Prescribed to relieve nausea, they can cause heart rhythm disturbances, strokes or even sudden death. First removed from the black list, fenfluramine (Fintepla), an amphetamine generally used for severe forms of childhood epilepsy, has just been reinstated by Prescrire because the molecule increases the frequency of convulsive states.
Honey to favor
As for phloroglucinol, the generic of Spasfon, used to treat stomach aches, its molecule is not in the list. However, its effectiveness is contested and it presents risks of “notable” adverse effects, “especially if taken by a young woman”. For wet or dry coughs, Prescrire advises avoiding medication and consuming honey. Oxomemazine [Toplexil]a cough suppressant, has a strong sedative effect.
For its part, pentoxyverine poses a danger of serious allergic reactions and heart problems. Outside of this blacklist, there are drugs whose effectiveness has not been proven and compared to which a placebo does neither better nor worse. Muscle relaxers and antidepressants are singled out. For example, it is better to use fluoxetine (Prozac) than agomelatine (Valdoxan) and tianeptine (Stablon).
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