The consumerist association 60 million consumers scrutinized the drugs most often used in self-medication to prevent or treat the evils of winter. According to their survey, the majority of drugs over-the-counter cough, a cold, the sore throat, influenza or intestinal disorders, would be ineffective. Some would even be dangerous for health.
28 drugs to avoid
Out of 61 drugs tested, 20 are classified as “for lack of a better one”, which means that their effectiveness is “weak or unproven but they have no, few or very rarely adverse effects”, explains the association. But 28 would be outright to be avoided because they “contain too many contraindications and disproportionate undesirable effects to treat temporary ailments, not to mention that some contain ineffective substances”. This is the case, for example, with paracetamol combined with pseudoephedrine and tripolidine, the effects of which would be “increase tenfold the risks of cardiovascular and neurological accidents”.
According to 60 million consumers, only 13 over-the-counter drugs really have a place in our pharmacies. These are, for example, Clarix dry cough syrup, Humex dry cough adults, Vicks vaporub, Imodiumcaps, Gaviscon mint, Maalox …
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