Over-the-counter cold medications like Actifed and Nurofen face scrutiny due to potential serious side effects, prompting the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) to propose restricting their sale starting November 21. While these drugs relieve nasal congestion, they may pose health risks, leading to divided opinions among health professionals. Some advocate for stricter regulations, while others worry about patient access to care. Most pharmacists are likely to suggest natural remedies as alternatives amid ongoing debates on these medications’ safety.
The Dilemma of Over-the-Counter Cold Medications
“Whenever I catch a cold, I find myself relying heavily on medications. I know it’s not the healthiest choice, but it’s essential for me to breathe comfortably,” shares a customer at a pharmacy in Lille. This sentiment highlights the ongoing debate surrounding popular cold remedies like Actifed, Dolirhume, Humex, Nurofen, and Rhinadvil. These medications have been deemed “not recommended” by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) for over a year due to the potential for serious side effects. Despite this, they remain available for purchase without a prescription—for now. The ANSM announced plans to restrict these medications from over-the-counter sales starting November 21.
Risks and Resistance to Regulation
These cold medications, available in both tablet and spray forms, work by constricting blood vessels to relieve nasal congestion. However, this process can pose serious health risks, including heart attacks or strokes, albeit rarely. French health authorities are advocating for a complete ban on these treatments, but they face opposition from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which believes the risks do not justify such drastic action. As a compromise, the ANSM is proposing that these medications only be available via prescription in France.
Béatrice Clairaz-Mahiou, co-president of the Francophone Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SFSPO), expresses concern about the impact of these regulations on patient care. “It will complicate our ability to address patients’ needs,” she states. Many medical professionals oppose the use of these medications, yet some pharmacists argue that limiting access may hinder their ability to assist clients, especially in a healthcare environment where appointments are hard to come by.
Conversely, there are voices advocating for stricter regulations, like pharmacist Fabien Florack from Aprium in Paris. He points out that the marketing of these products can lead to misuse. Éric Myon, Secretary General of the National Union of Pharmacists of France, even expresses his readiness to immediately remove these medications from shelves, emphasizing that patient safety takes precedence over profit.
One thing is clear: the pharmacy profession would prefer to focus on more pressing health concerns than advising against medications that may soon be taken off the market. An editorial in Prescrire, a respected journal on medication, argues that French health authorities have been slow to act and that the EU has missed opportunities to safeguard patient well-being. In the meantime, most pharmacists are likely to recommend natural alternatives for nasal congestion. As for the pharmaceutical companies producing these medications, they have remained silent on the matter when approached for comments.