these 88 drugs sold in France to avoid according to the journal Prescrire (they are on the blacklist)

According to a report published by the journal Prescribe, 88 drugs currently available in France are on a blacklist, due to benefits deemed insufficient or non-existent, and sometimes serious side effects. This annual report, relayed by The Dispatchwarns healthcare professionals and patients about the risks associated with these treatments. While certain medications are not recommended, safer alternatives exist.

In total, 106 medications are highlighted by the magazine, but not all are marketed in France. For those available in the territory, Prescribe sometimes recommend avoiding them altogether. Among them, treatments used for common disorders, such as medicated clays (diosmectite [Smecta]hydrotalcite [Rennieliquo]montmorillonite beidellitique [Bedelix]) prescribed in cases of acute diarrhea. Their use is particularly problematic in children due to a risk of natural lead contamination. The review suggests favoring alternatives such as clay-free antacids or omeprazole (Mopral).

Heart risks and other dangers

Antiemetics, such as dompéridonethe droperidol (Droleptan) or Metopimazine (Vogalene)used to relieve nausea, are also in the spotlight. These medications increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders, strokes, and even sudden death. Another controversial molecule is fenfluramine (Fintepla)used for certain severe forms of childhood epilepsy. Initially removed from the blacklist, it was reinstated due to an increased risk of severe seizures.

Common medications like phloroglucinolgeneric of Spasfon, also raise questions. Although it is not blacklisted, its effectiveness is questioned, while its side effects can be of concern, particularly for young women. For coughs, the review recommends favor honeya natural and risk-free solution, rather than cough suppressants like oxomemazine (Toplexil), which can cause severe drowsiness, or pentoxyverine, associated with heart problems and serious allergic reactions.

Alternatives to consider

In addition to these treatments, Prescrire highlights the existence of drugs whose effectiveness remains similar to that of a placebo. For example, among antidepressants, it would be preferable to use fluoxetine (Prozac) rather than molecules likeagomelatine (Valdoxan) or tianeptine (Stable). Likewise, certain muscle relaxants are considered useless, or even risky.

This assessment highlights the need to question the usefulness of certain medications, especially since safer and sometimes more effective alternatives exist. It is up to patients, but especially healthcare professionals, to be vigilant and refer to reliable recommendations to guarantee optimal care. And we must keep in mind that taking medication is never a trivial action.

Here is the complete list of 88 medications to avoid:

Oncology, transplants and hematology

• Defibrotide (Defitelio)
• No panobinostat (Farydak)
• Le roxadustat (Evrenzo)
• Trabectedin (Yondelis or other)
• Vandetanib (Caprelsa)
• La vinflunine (Javlor)

Cardiology

• Bezafibrate (Befizal) and fenofibrate (Lipanthyl or other)
• The Drone (Multaq)
• Ivabradine (Procoralan or other)
• Nicorandil (Ikorel or other)
• Olmesartan (Alteis, Olmetec; and combined with hydrochlorothiazide in Alteisduo, Coolmetec; and combined with amlodipine in Axeler, Sevikar)
• Trimetazidine (Vastarel or other)

Dermatology and allergology

• Finasteride dosed at 1 mg (Finasteride Arrow Lab or other)
• Mequitazine (Primalan)
• Dermal tacrolimus (Protopic or other)
• Promethazine injection (Phenergan)
• A peanut seed powder containing peanut proteins (Palforzia)

Diabetology and Nutrition

• Alogliptin (Vipidia; and combined with metformin in Vipdomet)
• Linagliptin (Trajenta; and combined with metformin in Jentadueto)
• Orlistat (Xenical or other)
• Saxagliptin (Onglyza; and combined with metformin in Komboglyze)
• Sitagliptin (Januvia, Xelevia or other; and combined with metformin in Janumet, Velmetia or other)
• Vildagliptin (Galvus or other); and associated with metformin in Eucreas or other.

Pain and rheumatology

• Aceclofenac (Cartrex or other) and diclofenac (Voltarene or other) orally
• Capsaicin in patches (Qutenza)
• The combination of colchicine + opium powder + tiemonium in the specialty Colchimax
• Coxibs: celecoxib (Celebrex or other), etoricoxib (Arcoxia or other) and parecoxib (Dynastat)
• Denosumab dosed at 60 mg (Prolia), used to fight osteoporosis.
• Diacerein (Art 50), used to treat osteoarthritis
• Ketoprofen gel (Ketum gel or other)
• Glucosamine (Flexea), used to treat osteoarthritis
• General meloxicam (Mobic or other), piroxicam (Feldène or other) and tenoxicam (Tilcotil)
• Methocarbamol (Lumirelax), used as a muscle relaxant.
• Romosozumab (Evenity), used to fight osteoporosis.
• La quinine (Hexaquine, Okimus)
• Thiocolchicoside (Miorel or other), used as a muscle relaxant.

Gastroenterology

• Obeticholic acid (Ocaliva)
• Medicated clays: diosmectite (Smecta or other), hydrotalcite (Rennieliquo), beidellitic montmorillonite aka monmectite (Bedelix, and in combination in Gelox) and kaolin (in combination in Gastropax)
• Domperidone (Domperidone Biogaran or other), droperidol (Droleptan or other) and metopimazine (Vogalene, Vogalib or other)
• Le prucalopride (Resolor)
• Opium tincture (Dropizal)
• Glyceryl trinitrate ointment 0.4% (Rectogésic)

Gynecology and endocrinology

• Tibolone (Livial or other)
• Drugs used in infectious diseases
• Moxifloxacin (Izilox or other)

Neurology

• Donepezil (Aricept or other), galantamine (Reminyl or other), rivastigmine (Exelo or other), used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
• Fenfluramine (Fintepla).
• Le Ginkgo biloba (Tanakan or other)
• Memantine (Ebixa or other), used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
• Le naftidrofuryl (Naftilux)
• Natalizumab (Tysabri or other), used to treat multiple sclerosis.
• Oxétorone (Nocertone)
• Piracetam (Nootropyl or other)
• Teriflunomide (Aubagio or other), used to treat multiple sclerosis.
• La tolcapone (Tasmar)

Pneumology and ENT

• Alpha-amylase (Maxilase or other), used to treat sore throats.
• Ambroxol (Muxol or other) and bromhexine (Bisolvon), used to treat coughs.
• Oral or nasal decongestants (ephedrine, naphazoline, oxymetazoline, pseudoephedrine, tuaminoheptane)
• Oxomemazine (Toplexil or other) used to treat cough.
• Nintedanib (Ofev)
• Pentoxyverine (Pentoxyverine Clarix 0.15%) used to treat coughs.

Psychiatry and addiction

• Agomelatine (Valdoxan or other), used to fight depression.
• Citalopram (Seropram or other) and escitalopram (Seroplex or other), used to fight depression.
• Dapoxetine (Priligy), used as a psychotropic drug.
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta or other), milnacipran (Milnacipran Arrow or other) and venlafaxine (Effexor LP or other), used to fight depression.
• Esketamine nasal spray solution (Spravato), used to combat depression.
• Etifoxine (Stresam or other), used as a psychotropic drug.
• Tianeptine (Stablon or other), used to fight depression.

Smoking cessation

urologists

• Oral pentosan polysulfate (Elmiron)

Passionate about women’s news, Agathe has been deciphering the latest trends for aufeminin since 2022. Her favorite areas? Psychology, nutrition and well-being advice, without forgetting the tips…