The medical journal Prescrire lists 106 drugs “more dangerous than useful” including 88 marketed in France.
For the thirteenth year, Prescrire publishes its blacklist of medications to avoid for treatment. In the 2025 edition, 106 drugs “more dangerous than useful” in all the indications appearing in their AMM (marketing authorization) are singled out, including 88 marketed in France. Their benefit-risk balance is unfavorable, they should no longer be marketed according to the review. “This review covers drugs for which a detailed analysis was published in Prescrire from 2010 to 2024. specifies the journal whose “the main objective is to provide caregivers and patients with clear, concise, reliable and up-to-date information, independent of commercial or corporate conflicts of interest, which they need for their practice.” Following this assessment, certain drugs are added, others are withdrawn, either because their marketing has been stopped, or while their benefit-risk balance is re-examined.
What drugs should be avoided in 2025?
Among the 88 drugs marketed in France to avoid according to the review:
- In cancerology : defibrotide (Defitelio®), panobinostat (Farydak®), roxadustat (Evrenzo®) trabectedin (Yondelis® or other), vandetanib (Caprelsa®), vinflunine (Javlor®)
- In cardiology : aliskiren (Rasilez®), bezafibrate (Befizal®), fenofibrate (Lipanthyl® or other), dronedarone (Multaq®), ivabradine (Procoralan®), nicorandil (Ikorel® or other), olmesartan (Alteis®, Olmetec®), trimetazidine (Vastarel® or other).
- In dermatology and allergology : finasteride 1 mg, mequitazine (Primalan®)
- In diabetology and nutrition : alogliptin (Vipidia®), vildagliptin (Galvus®), sitagliptin (Januvia®, Xelevia®; and associated with metformin in Janumet®, Velmetia®), orlistat (Xenical® or other).
- In rheumatology/painkillers : aceclofenac (Cartrex®), diclofenac (Voltarene® or other) orally, coxibs: celecoxib (Celebrex® or other), ketoprofen gel (Ketum® gel), meloxicam (Mobic®), piroxicam (Feldene®), glucosamine (Flexea®), methocarbamol (Lumirelax®), capsaicin in patches (Qutenza®), quinine (Hexaquine®), thiocolchicoside (Miorel®)
- Against osteoporosis: denosumab dosed at 60 mg (Prolia®), romosozumab (Evenity®)
- In gastroenterology : obeticholic acid (Ocaliva®), diosmectite (Smecta® or other), domperidone (Domperidone Biogaran® or other (ex-Motilium®)), metopimazine (Vogalene®, Vogalib®), monmectite (Bedelix®)
- In gynecology-endocrinology: tibolone (Livial® or other)
- In neurology: in the treatment of multiple sclerosis natalizumab (Tysabri®), flunarizine (Sibelium®) and oxetorone (Nocertone®), neuroleptics used to prevent migraine attacks. In the treatment of disease Alzheimer’sTHE donepezil (Aricept® or other), galantamine (Reminyl® or other), rivastigmine (Exelon® or other).
- In case of sore throat or cough: alpha-amylase (Maxilase® or other) exposes you to sometimes serious skin or allergic disorders; oxomemazine (Toplexil® or other), exposed to “disproportionate adverse effects”; ambroxol (Muxol® or other) and bromhexine (Bisolvon®)
- In case of cold: THE oral or nasal decongestants (ephedrine, naphazoline, oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, tuaminoheptane.
- Depression, psychotropic: citalopram (Seropram® or other) and escitalopram (Seroplex® or other); duloxetine (Cymbalta® or other); etifoxine (Strasam®).
- To stop smoking: bupropione (Zyban®) “is no more effective than nicotine (patch, editor’s note) and exposes you to neuropsychological disorders”.
The Prescrire magazine also reports on the controversy surrounding Phloroglucinol, the active substance in Spasfon®. Its main side effects are allergic reactions, including rare Lyell syndrome and a possible risk to the unborn fetus. “Its symptomatic effectiveness on recurrent benign intestinal disorders is uncertain. In other clinical situations, there is nothing to expect beyond the effectiveness of a placebo. In women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant, it should be ruled out (… It is prudent to advise against taking it as self-medication, which is commonplace in France.” estimate the experts at Prescrire.
