2024-02-08 11:41:40
You will no longer see it on the screen. Advertising in all its forms of ibuprofen in 400 mg, the highest dosage for this anti-inflammatory, used to relieve pain and reduce fever, will be banned from April 2, announced this Thursday the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM). It is based on the observation that the promotions of this medicine in 400 mg, without a prescription and the most widely used of all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in France “were not likely to encourage patients” to monitor the proper use of these medications, explains the agency.
The recommendations actually recommend “favoring taking ibuprofen at a dose of 200 mg as first intention”, that is to say starting treatment with the lowest dose, recalls the drug policeman. This measure aims to popularize “better education for better use” of these drugs, available without a prescription and widely consumed in France, explains Dr Philippe Vella, medical director at the ANSM. The agency specifies that this in no way calls into question the effectiveness and safety of these medications when used correctly, the agency specifies.
Sales on the rise and so are the side effects
Advertisements in favor of the 400 mg dosage clearly remind the general public of this precautionary principle with a message encouraging them to use “the lowest possible dose”, according to the ANSM. But, in a “majority” way, they led to an increase in sales of these specialties and, at the same time, the ANSM noted an increase in “reports of serious adverse effects linked to the dose of ibuprofen” in particular gastrointestinal bleeding. digestive and kidney damage.
In total, “16 laboratories are concerned with ibuprofen 400 mg, which represents around thirty brands of medicine” (such as Advil 400, Nurofen 400, Spedifen 400 and all generics whose name begins with ibuprofen with the name of the laboratory and the dosage alongside), detailed Philippe Vella. They were informed of this “restrictive measure”. Since the end of 2019, these products are no longer available on pharmacy shelves, but on request from the pharmacist.
Start with paracetamol
“The important thing is to take it for the shortest possible time, no more than three days in case of fever and five days in case of pain, starting with the dose of 200 mg and respecting the interval at least six hours between doses,” says Dr. Vella.
In case of fever or pain, you should start with paracetamol, reminds this expert. Paracetamol also remains favored: around 600 million boxes sold in 2022 compared to around 34 million boxes of ibuprofen (all dosages), including 30 million of ibuprofen 400 and 4 million of ibuprofen 200.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should not be used in cases of chickenpox, bleeding disorders, stomach ulcers, kidney and liver diseases in particular. They are also contraindicated from the sixth month of pregnancy.
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