Many people think that these treatments are safe because they can be bought without a prescription. According to European regulations, in fact, products are authorized for optional medical prescription because they have moderate toxicity, with higher dosages sometimes being reserved for doctors.
However, even if its use is trivialized by open access, a medication will never be a consumer product like any other. It is not because it is easier to obtain, and because it is praised by advertising, that it can be used without any danger. Any medicine is likely to cause unexpected and harmful reactions (so-called side effects or iatrogenic) and zero risk does not exist. In France, it is estimated that they are responsible for 12,000 deaths per year and 3% of hospitalizations. Before over-medicalizing our existence, we must be aware of it.
An example: Myolastan®, a muscle relaxant marketed since 1969, disappeared from pharmacies in July 2013. A French pharmacovigilance survey had revealed an abnormally high frequency of serious skin side effects.
Conclusion: when you arrive home with your box of drugs under your arm, the least precaution is that you carefully read the instructions and warnings before rushing to the remedy.
