The National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) is launching a general public campaign on Wednesday on their proper use, a “major public health issue”. Its slogan: “Medicines are not ordinary products, do not take them lightly.” »
One in five French people takes higher doses or several drugs at the same time to relieve symptoms more quickly. Nearly one in two French people give medicine to a loved one because they have similar symptoms, one in ten even does it systematically or often. And 34% consider it rather safe or not at all risky to take an expired medicine. Social networks play “an amplifying role” in this misuse, observed Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil.
Medicines prescribed or recommended for one person may prove useless or dangerous for another. Not respecting a dose or duration of treatment can also make it ineffective, even dangerous. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin, which are among the most used treatments in self-medication, are for example prohibited in pregnant women. After the 5th month of pregnancy, a single dose can lead to the death of the future baby.
To “reach as many people as possible”, the Medicines Agency is launching a digital campaign, which will be rolled out until the end of the year, on the Internet, YouTube, social networks, streaming platforms, topicality… In a desired “offbeat” tone, it encourages the adoption of four good reflexes: respect the prescription or the advice of the health professional (dose, frequency, duration, etc.), use only medication prescribed or recommended by a health professional, and not by a close relative, do not take several medications at the same time without the advice of a health professional. And finally, pay attention to the modalities and shelf life of the drugs.