“In case of a cold, avoid oral vasoconstrictor medications!” This alert from the ANSM (National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products) had an almost immediate effect on NèreS, a professional organization that represents pharmaceutical laboratories.
According to these representatives, the ANSM made a “premature” announcement even though the scientific conclusions of the European Pharmacovigilance Committee have not yet been delivered.
A favorable benefit/risk ratio
Pseudoephedrine is a “sympathomimetic amine used as a decongestant” in class medications. Humex, Actifed, Nurofen or Dolirhume. In an interview with Le Parisien, the president of the ANSM, Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, highlighted the adverse effects related to these medications without a medical prescription. According to her, “myocardial infarctions and strokes may occur after its use.”
In its statement, NèreS considers that “in the absence of the conclusions of the PRAC (Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee, the pharmacovigilance committee at European level) and taking into account that these medicines continue to have their marketing authorizations on the market issued by the ANSM, The benefit/risk ratio to date of oral vasoconstrictors remains favorable.
To reassure patients alerted by the ANSM announcement, laboratory representatives recall “the role of the pharmacist who occupies a central place in patient care, even in medical deserts.”
Source: BFM TV
