France Updates “Do Not Use” Drug List for 2024, Citing Risks with Common Medications
Paris, France – French health authorities have revised their list of medications deemed “more risky than useful,” advising against their use due to disproportionate adverse effects or lack of demonstrated clinical benefit. The updated recommendations, published by Prescrire journal and reported by actu.fr, impact a range of commonly used drugs, including those for digestive issues, menopause symptoms, and chronic cough. The changes aim to prioritize patient safety and ensure medications offer genuine therapeutic value.
This annual review is crucial for both healthcare professionals and patients,as it highlights drugs where the risks outweigh the benefits. The updated list reflects ongoing monitoring of medication side effects and evolving clinical data. Millions of French citizens rely on these medications, making informed prescribing and patient awareness vital. The latest revisions include additions and removals, signaling a dynamic approach to drug safety regulation.
among the drugs now strongly discouraged is Smecta, used for diarrhea, due to the risk of aspiration pneumonia, especially in vulnerable populations. Maxilase, an enzyme preparation for digestive issues, is also flagged for lacking proven efficacy. Voltarène (diclofenac), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), remains on the list due to cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks.
New additions to the list include:
* fezolintant (Veoza°), a thermoregulator for hot flashes during menopause, which “exposes to disproportionate adverse effects, including hepatotoxicity, digestive and neuropsychological disorders as well as various pains.”
* Gefapixant (Lyfnua°), the first EU-approved drug for chronic cough refractory or of unexplained origin, “exposed to vrey frequent taste disorders, pneumonia and urolithiasis.”
* A warning regarding angioedema following a case involving actor Michel Blanc,highlighting the potential for severe allergic reactions.
Conversely, two medications have been removed from the list: lobeticholic acid – no longer authorized for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis due to serious hepatic adverse effects – and piracetam. While piracetam’s benefit-risk balance remains unfavorable for moast uses (“no established clinical effectiveness, although it can cause bleeding, nervousness, agitation and weight gain”), data suggest “possible clinical interest, but uncertain” in treating rare cases of myoclonus of cortical origin.
“However, its benefit-risk balance remains unfavorable in other marketing authorization (AMM) situations: piracetam then has no established clinical effectiveness, although it can cause bleeding, nervousness, agitation and weight gain,” states Prescrire.
A complete list of medications to avoid is available on the Prescrire website: https://www.prescrire.org/medicaments-et-evaluations/medicaments-a-ecarter.
