“There is no miracle cure but treacherous medications,” believes Sylvie. This pharmacist from the Jean-Jaurès district in Toulouse has already hidden Actifed Rhume and Humex Rhume from her stalls. For good reason, from this Wednesday, to have access to these anti-cold treatments, you will need to have a prescription. All medications containing the pseudoephedrine* molecule must be issued by prescription because of “very numerous contraindications and undesirable effects of the (molecule) and the benign nature of the common cold,” explains the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM). ).
“For several years, we have been telling patients the contraindications and we are trying to explain that this is not a medicine to be taken lightly like sugar,” comments Arnaud, doctor of pharmacy near La Trinité in Toulouse. The latter, like the ANSM, recalls possible side effects such as strokes and heart attacks and the impact, not without consequences, of taking medication.
Patients “unable to endure a blocked nose”
“We take it for nothing,” looks at a pharmacist, preferring to remain anonymous, applauding the decision of the authorities. She believes, today, that “our patients are no longer capable of suffering from a blocked nose” while “complaining about the side effects”. After thirty years in her boutique-firm, according to her, impatience is in order.
Just like in Arnaud’s pharmacy, his patients are stocking up on anti-cold medications this Tuesday. “They cannot do without somatic treatments. A week of cold, with or without medication, will not change anything about the illness. They will just blow their noses less,” says the pharmacist, apparently jaded by her patients.
Aromatherapy and essential oils
Sylvie and Arnaud smile: they have already passed the threshold of change. “It’s been well over a year since we switched to other alternatives such as aromatherapy and essential oils: they are as beneficial as a synthetic medicine and more natural. People can treat themselves without these prescription drugs, it’s possible! », Develops the pharmacist. “It’s a loss of income but as a professional, it remains a better alternative for patients,” adds Sylvie.
Behind the annoyance of certain professionals and the appeasement of others, there remains the question, nonetheless commercial. “Those are big turnovers during those times, to be honest. This takes away a string from our bow,” explains Arnaud. In his pharmacy, the drop in purchases of anti-cold medications has been felt since last year following contraindications from the Medicines Agency, but nothing to panic about all the same, as he points out: there is has other alternatives.
Doctors already underwater and impatient
The only downside though: the patients. “We expect it to be loud but we are here to inform them as best we can. It’s just a cold…”, recalls Sylvie, pharmacist at Jean-Jaurès. “People will still try it without a prescription, it’s always like that, we’re used to it,” adds Arnaud. The latter is getting ready. And for good reason: “Having a medical appointment for this prescription, given the medical deserts, is going to be a hassle. »
Bad luck for Mathilde P., a 37-year-old woman from Toulouse who is regularly ill: “I’m not making generalizations about medications, but imagine if we imposed a prescription for Smecta? We know we have gastro, we know how to treat it without a doctor, why have to make an appointment with the doctor suddenly? Just to get a prescription? General practitioners don’t just have to do that, whether it’s a cold or a stomach bug,” breathes the former and future patient of practices for benign illnesses. “Why not ban them directly? No one will go to the doctor for a cold,” adds the anonymous pharmacist, ready to do battle with the sick! Without Humex, all the same and according to pharmacists, you will be able to unblock your nose to breathe better and calm down, without having a stroke.
*Actived Cold, Actifed Cold day and night, Dolirhume Paracetamol and Pseudoephedrine, Dolirhumepro Paracetamol Pseudoephedrine and Doxylamine, Humex Cold, Nurofen Cold, Rhinadvil Cold, Ibuprofen/Pseudoephedrine, Rhinadvilcaps Cold Ibuprofen/Pseudoephedrine.