Camille Moreau // Photo credits: WLADIMIR BULGAR / SCIENCE PHOTO LI / WBU / Science Photo Library via AFP 9:48 a.m., April 2, 2024
30 million boxes of ibuprofen 400mg are sold each year in France, but advertising for this drug to the general public will be banned from April 2. The number of severe adverse effects such as kidney damage or digestive bleeding has increased in parallel with the number of advertisements.
The National Medicines Safety Agency intends to reason with the French about their use of ibuprofen 400, often in too high a dose and for too long. 30 million boxes of ibuprofen 400mg are sold each year in France, but advertising for this drug to the general public will be banned from April 2.
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Ibuprofen: advertising soon to be banned for 400 mg dosages of the drug
Ibuprofen 400 has become a reflex for headaches
Unfortunately, for many French people, taking ibuprofen 400 has become a reflex in case of headaches. "It's systematic. In any case, if I have a headache, I'll definitely take it. I've never read the instructions, I'm not really curious about that, so if there are specific side effects, I don't know them", declared Julie, 21, at the microphone of Europe 1. Faced with this lack of knowledge, health professionals take precautions. No more self-service ibuprofen since 2019, explains Laeticia, pharmacist in Paris: “So for us, ibuprofen has always been behind us. No one can have access to it except the pharmacist”.
This medicine may cause side effects. Kidney damage, digestive bleeding for the most severe cases and not everyone can consume it, reminds the pharmacist: "Pregnant women are not allowed to take it, people who have had hypertension, Stroke, people on anticoagulants. For all others, the instructions for use should be remembered. No more than three days in case of fever, five days in case of pain.