‘medicines to avoid in 2024’ list published by french medical review

THE 105 DRUGS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ‘MORE DANGEROUS THAN USEFUL’ BUT THE MAJORITY ARE STILL WIDELY AVAILABLE AND USED The annual list of medicines to avoid - those that are considered ‘more

dangerous than useful’ - has been published in France, and includes a cough medicine and an antibiotic. Each year for the past 12 years, the specialist medical review _Prescrire_ has

published an updated list of medicines whose serious side-effects are considered to be too risky or severe in comparison to the treatment they are intended to provide. People are warned to

avoid the medicines on the list, and doctors are advised to find alternatives when prescribing. This year, there are 105 medicines on the list, of which 88 are still sold in the country,

which the review condemned as “much too high”, and showed that health authorities were “lacking in protecting patients”. Some of the still-for-sale medicines on the list are even widely

used, the review warned. READ MORE: WHY ARE ‘MEDICINES TO AVOID’ ALLOWED TO STAY IN CIRCULATION IN FRANCE? COMMONLY-USED MEDICINES The most commonly used drugs on this year’s list include: *

MOXIFLOXACIN (sold under brands including Izilox). An antibiotic. This is “no more effective than other [antibiotics]”, the review said, but offers a greater risk of acute liver failure and

heart problems. * OXOMEMAZINE (Toplexil or other). A cough reliever. This “exposes patients to disproportionate adverse effects”, _Prescrire_ said. * ACECLOFENAC (Cartrex or other) and

diclofenac (Voltarene or other). Oral treatments for rheumatological conditions, but increase the risk of cardiovascular side effects including heart attack and heart failure. *

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE TREATMENTS, including donepezil (Aricept), galantamine (Reminyl) and rivastigmine (Exelon). Most “have minimal and transient efficacy”, the review said, with

disproportionate side effects. None of these drugs have been shown to be effective in slowing the progression of the illness, it added, but they are “associated with serious, sometimes

fatal, side effects” Other medicines on the list include treatments for a runny nose, cough, and sore throat. For these relatively less-serious conditions, the risk of side effects is

considered to be far too high to justify the use of the drug. These include decongestants, including Actifed Rhume, Dolirhume, Humex Rhume, Nurofen Rhume, and Rhinadvil. These contain a

vasoconstrictor that is intended to improve the sensation of a blocked nose, but they can also, in rare cases, cause serious and sometimes-fatal cardiovascular issues. READ MORE: HEALTH

ALERT IN FRANCE OVER COMMON COLD MEDICINES READ MORE: PHOTOS: THE COLD MEDICINES ON SALE - BUT TO BE AVOIDED - IN FRANCE This year’s list also warns against a new immunosuppressant product

named ‘teriflunomide’ (sold under brands including Aubagio), which is widely used to treat multiple sclerosis. The product was taken off the Prescrire list last year in order for its

‘benefit-risk ratio’ to be assessed for children aged 10 and over. The ratio was found to be “unfavourable”, prompting Prescrire to advise that the drug be “withdrawn from care”. The full

list of medicines, organised by category, can be seen ON THE _PRESCRIRE_ WEBSITE HERE. RELATED ARTICLES ‘MEDICINES TO AVOID IN 2023’ LIST PUBLISHED BY FRENCH MEDICAL REVIEW ‘MEDICINES TO

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