France warns against ibuprofen and calls for a European study on its risks – 19/04/2019

The French drug agency has warned doctors and patients against the risks of using two drugs, ibuprofen and ketoprofen, two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs producing badgesic effects. Following a study conducted in 2018, the agency said that the use of these drugs may have worsened some of the infections for which they had been administered. She has therefore commissioned a survey all over Europe.

The problem is not minor: after paracetamol, in France at least, ibuprofen the most used badgesic for what the experts call "the first level of seriousness," informed the agency EFE.

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The study was conducted in the regional centers of Tours and Marseille of the National Agency for Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM). The conclusion was that there were a number of infections, including Streptococcus could worsen after taking these two medications.

Complications were observed after very short periods of treatment (two to three days), when ibuprofen or ketoprofen had been prescribed (or used in a self-medicated form) for fever, mild skin problems Inflammatory, respiratory or respiratory disorders. otolaryngological system.

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In total, among the cases studied (which go back to a long period started in 2000), French researchers badyzed 337 cases of infectious complications with ibuprofen and 49 with ketoprofen, which were severe and were at risk. Origin of hospitalizations, sequelae and even death.

For this reason, the French health agency has asked for an badysis to be carried out with its European counterparts, because drug authorizations are granted for the whole of Europe, not only for France, and it is up to scale to re-evaluate the risk / benefit ratio of these products.

In Argentina, Carlos González Malla, doctor of the medical clinic department of the German hospital, said: "We are also aware of the risk of infections, but this happens with any anti-inflammatory. Effect of these drugs is decrease the body's initial response against infectionthat is, the natural defense. It turns out that, to act, the drug must inhibit inflammation, which makes it uncomfortable. And even if you feel good at last, the remedy diminishes the natural defense of the body.

He added that "France has been studying this subject for a long time, we know it, because there are several publications (…) What is interesting is that they have taken a large part of the consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs. -Inflammatory in boys: more than 70% were by self-medication. " the largest number of millions of dollars in the world, "added the expert, adding that" what worries most in the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, it is the people who he has been taking medication for a long timein the long term, because they increase the cardiovascular risk, the risk of ulcers and digestive hemorrhages ".

The doctor explained that "unfortunately there is no precise data on the consumption of over-the-counter medicines in Argentina. Since ibuprofen is sold even in the kiosks, there is not much control and the drug companies do not communicate the data easily. "

As for the consumption of ibuprofen in the country, Jimena Worcel, medical director of the Argentine Chamber of Free Medicine, said that "in Argentina, ibuprofen is available for sale free". up to a maximum of 400 milligrams per capsule. On the other hand, ketoprofen, a potent drug, generally used for postoperative use, is not over-the-counter. "

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Worcel said that, although they do not have accurate data, "since the emergence of over-the-counter ibuprofen in the Argentinian market, the use of aspirin has declined sharply; but among the entities conducting research on the toxicology of irresponsible use or pharmacovigilance, which are the references that could detect problems, we have not received any information that there is a risk situation in Argentina against ibuprofen, punctually. "

What do the experts recommend? For González Malla, "it is better not to take unnecessary anti-inflammatory drugs, the symptoms could improve alone. The second tip is give priority to paracetamol because it has fewer adverse effects: it does not cause these risks of gastrointestinal bleeding or infections. "

In the same vein, ANSM stated that, while conducting its investigation, it had issued a series of recommendations, including the suggestion to favor paracetamol over other anti-inflammatory drugs. inflammatory.

As for the "rules of good use" of ibuprofen and ketoprofen, they emphasized that it was necessary to consume the minimum effective dosefor the shortest duration, stop the treatment as soon as the symptoms disappear, do not prolong it for more than three days in case of fever, or more than five days in case of pain.