The review Prescrire identifies several drugs for insufficient information on the package leaflet or dangerous packaging, particularly for children.
Red card for several drugs. Review Prescribe handed over on January 30 the ” red packaging cards. »They designate drugs whose packaging presents a lack of information or whose packaging presents a risk of dosage errors.
Dangerous packaging for children
Prescribe dwells at length on drugs whose packaging poses a risk to children. Particularly fragile, they are also the most at risk of overdose if the boxes are left within their reach. 5 suppositories are particularly involved, since they have already been curbed by the medical journal in 2011 due to the high risk of seizures in children. These are suppositories based on terpene derivatives (Bisquinol child, Bronchodermin child, Childhood citral bronchorectin, Coquelusedal child, Ozothine child).
Two forms of medication intended for adults are also implicated. Codoliprane 500 mg / 30 mg effervescent breakable (paracetamol and codeine) is unsuitable by its form. While the dosage is also indicated for children from 3 years old, the box does not include a measuring cap. This exposes the youngest to overdoses with potentially serious effects. Cough syrup Clarix dry cough Adult (dextromethorphan mepyramine) is also not equipped with a safety cap. Children can therefore ingest the product without limit.
The other drug in this category is intended for hyperactive children: it is the Ritalin LP 10 mg. The capsules are packaged in a single bottle. So, again, the child can take doses higher than those indicated, while the medicine is partly composed of amphetamines.
Not detailed enough
Prescribe points out several drugs for lack of information accompanying the products. Rhinadvil Cold (ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine), treatment of cold symptoms, contains insufficiently detailed leaflet. It does not provide enough information about the risks of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen) in pregnant women. The use of the drug is not recommended until 6 months of pregnancy. According to Prescribe, there are risks of miscarriage and malformations from the 1st trimester, and the risks of malformations are not mentioned either. Clarix dry cough Adult (dextromethorphan) also receives a red card: the box labeling does not indicate the presence of opioids in the drug. However, the Clarix range covers several products, some of which are opioid-free.
Possible dosing errors in adults
Prescribe finally denounces the packaging which exposes adults to dosage errors. Two of them are intended to control blood sugar. Januvia and Xelevia offer two strengths (50 and 100 mg) that are similar, both in the boxes and in the platelets. In the case of renal failure, do not exceed 50 mg per dose. The possible confusion can therefore be costly for patients undergoing treatment.
Remember that this year again, as since 2008, Prescribe did not honor any of the Golden Pill drugs, supposed to reward major therapeutic progress in an area where patients and caregivers are poor. No medication either on the honor roll, which denotes therapeutic progress.
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