France Restricts Sale of Eight Popular Cold Medications Over Safety Concerns

Starting December 11, medications containing pseudoephedrine will require a prescription due to risks of severe side effects.

• The French health agency ANSM has mandated prescriptions for eight cold medications, including Actifed, Humex, and Dolirhume, citing safety concerns.
• These medications, containing pseudoephedrine, have been linked to rare but serious side effects such as strokes and heart attacks.
• The decision follows years of warnings from health experts about the risks of using these drugs for a minor illness like the common cold.
• Critics argue the move may complicate access to treatment for patients, especially with ongoing challenges in securing medical appointments.
• The ANSM emphasizes the need for doctors to carefully assess the benefit-risk ratio before prescribing these medications.

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