Thursday December 5, the review Prescribe has drawn up the 2024 list of medicines whose benefit-risk balance is unfavorable, that is to say they represent more of a danger than a benefit to health.
The review analyzed numerous drugs authorized in France or the EU. Among them, 106 are problematic, including 88 marketed in France. Smecta, a medication widely available in French pharmacies, prescribed for diarrhea, is one of these medications that is not recommended. Firstly because it has not shown its effectiveness, not acting on the risk of dehydration for example. And because the medicated clays which constitute it may contain traces of natural lead, indicates France Blue.
Return of Fintepla, against epilepsy in children
Voltarene, an anti-inflammatory prescribed in cases of inflammation and pain, can cause more“adverse effects, particularly cardiovascular”, “so no more myocardial infarction, no more heart failure”details Pierre Chirac, pharmacy and editor at Prescribewith our colleagues from France Culture.
Toplexil cough syrup, an antihistamine, has side effects “disproportionate”according to the study. The review recommends favoring Dextromethorphan. Other drugs are mentioned, recalls BFMTV such as Propecia, against baldness or Primalan, against rhinitis.
Every year, Prescribe publishes a list of everyday medications to avoid. Certain drugs such as Smecta and Toplexil were already included last year. Fintepla, an amphetamine made to combat epileptic seizures in children with Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, is returning to the list, due to the risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension, « troubles neuropsychiques » or “cardiovascular”.
This list, intended for patients and caregivers, aims to provide “clear, concise, reliable and up-to-date information, independent of any conflict of interest, useful for quality care”.
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