The decline in sales of 3rd and 4th generation pills has continued since the start of the year. The decrease reached 34% in February 2013 compared to February 2012.
The recommendations of the National Medicines Safety Agency (Ansm) which asked prescribing doctors to prescribe 1st and 2nd generation pills as first-line pills were listened to. Indeed, according to an analysis of usage data as of March 1, 2013, from the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists (CNOP) and Celtipharm, the drop in sales of combined oral contraceptives (COC) by 3th and 4th generation has continued since the start of the year: -34% in February 2013 compared to February 2012.
This decrease is accompanied by a significant increase in the use of 1st and 2nd COCsth generation: + 27% in February 2013 compared to February 2012. “These data confirm that doctors have modified their prescriptions in line with the recommendations sent at the end of December by the Ansm to prescribers”, rejoices Dominique Maraninchi, general manager of the ‘Agency.
Finally, over the period December 2012 – February 2013, a drop in sales of COCs, all generations combined, was observed: -1% in December 2012 compared to December 2011 and – 2% in February 2013.
But Ansm recalls that COCs of all generations represent 80% of sales of all contraceptives (81% in February 2012).
For other means of contraception, there has been both an increase in the use of implants and IUDs and a decline in the use of estrogen-progestogen contraceptive patches and rings. Data that remains under surveillance. For Ansm, “their periodic update aims to retrospectively shed light on the reality of the situation in France and to prospectively assess the impact of the measures already taken to prevent risks”.
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