The medical journal Prescrire lists 108 drugs “more dangerous than useful” including 89 marketed in France.
For the fourteenth year, Prescrire publishes its blacklist of medications to avoid for treatment. In the 2026 edition, 108 drugs “more dangerous than useful” in all the indications appearing in their AMM (marketing authorization) are singled out, including 89 marketed in France. Their benefit-risk balance is unfavorable, they should no longer be marketed according to the review. “This review concerns drugs for which a detailed analysis was published in Prescrire from 2010 to 2025. 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 Following this assessment, certain drugs are added, others are withdrawn, either because their marketing has been stopped, or while their benefit-risk balance is re-examined.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 2026?
Among the 89 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®), dermal tacrolimus (Protopic®)
- 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 quit smoking: bupropione (Zyban®) “is no more effective than nicotine (patch, editor’s note) and exposes you to neuropsychological disorders”.
Four drugs were added to the list of those to be excluded, due to lack of solid effectiveness and due to adverse effects considered too significant. Andexanet alfa (Ondexxya®), an antidote used for serious bleeding under anticoagulants, increases the risk of thromboembolic accidents compared to usual care. Chondroitin (Chondrosulf®), proposed for osteoarthritis although no proof of effectiveness exists, can cause allergic reactions that are sometimes severe, such as skin rashes or angioedema. Fezolintant (Veoza®), prescribed to reduce hot flashes linked to menopause, causes serious adverse effects, including liver damage, digestive or neuropsychological disorders and multiple pains. As for gefapixant (Lyfnua®), intended for people suffering from chronic cough, it very often causes taste disorders and can also cause pneumonia or urinary stones.
Two drugs are removed from Prescrire’s new report. The first, obeticholic acid (formerly Ocaliva®), is no longer authorized for primary biliary cholangitis. The authorities explain that it provides no benefit, even in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid, and that it often worsens the main symptoms, such as itching or fatigue. It also exposes you to serious adverse effects on the liver, sometimes fatal. The second, piracetam (Nootropyl)®, remains available but its real effectiveness remains unclear. Used for dizziness, certain cognitive disorders or rare myoclonus, it was re-evaluated in 2025: experts judge that it could help in these myoclonus of cortical origin, but the evidence is still too uncertain.
