These medicines contain a vasoconstrictor which can cause cardiovascular or neurological side effects.

Actifed, Humex, Dolirhume, Nurofen, Rhinadvil ... Are you fond of it to fight against cold symptoms and stuffy nose? Attention, once again alert the Medicines Agency (ANSM) : accessible without a prescription, they contain pseudoephedrine and can cause “rare but serious” complications, such as heart attack or cerebrovascular accident (stroke). The danger has been known for several years , but it is clear that these products continue to be widely consumed.

After banning them from advertising in January 2018 , the ANSM has now undertaken to strengthen information for patients and pharmacists on the proper use of these drugs. "The results of a pharmacovigilance survey" presented in March "showed the persistence of cases of rare but serious cardiovascular and neurological adverse effects" and "significant misuse" , justifies the health agency.

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This pharmacovigilance survey indicates that 307 "serious" cases were notified between January 2012 and August 2018, including 54 cases of cardiovascular adverse effects (heart attack, hypertension, fibrillation, etc.) and 82 cases of central neurological effects ( Stroke, transient ischemic attacks ...). Five deaths have been notified. The misuse, which "is partly explained by the widespread trivialization of these drugs among the general population and the presence in family pharmacies" , indicates the report of the Technical Pharmacovigilance Committee, "represented 33% of" serious cases. ”Cardiovascular adverse effects and 46.3% of“ serious ”cases of central neurological adverse effects”, specifies the report. Among the cases of myocardial infarction, 90% of the patients had risk factors and among the cases of stroke, 64%.

"The common cold cures spontaneously in 7 to 10 days without treatment" , thus reminds the health authority today in two information sheets dedicated, one to pharmacists, the other to patients, which must be given to them at each dispensation. .

The former are invited to ask different questions to patients before any delivery of one or other of these drugs, listing the various absolute contraindications (under 15 years, cardiovascular or neurological history, taking another oral decongestant. or nasal, breast-feeding) and cases where medical advice is required (cardiovascular disorder, taking certain other treatments, pregnancy).

"Treatment with a vasoconstrictor should be reserved as a second line in the event of non-relief of symptoms" , indicates the ANSM, recalling that "vasoconstrictors reduce the sensation of a blocked nose, by a vasoconstriction action of the blood vessels resulting in a reduction swelling of the nasal mucosa ” , but they do not reduce the duration of the common cold. The maximum treatment time is 5 days.

Even without medication, simple actions can already relieve the symptoms: wash your nose with physiological serum or seawater sprays, drink, sleep with your head elevated and maintain a cool atmosphere by avoiding air conditioning (which dries the air and nasal mucous membranes) and tobacco.