Self-medication shown to be widespread in France posing health risks
Up to a third of patients admit to changing their prescription medication dosage or duration despite the risks involved, a report reveals
People are warned to always follow their prescription to the letter and not to 鈥榣end鈥� their medicines to others or take them past their expiry date
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People are putting their health at risk by changing the dosage rules on medication prescribed for them, the French medicines safety agency warns as part of a new awareness campaign.
The Agence nationale de s茅curit茅 du m茅dicament et des produits de sant茅 (ANSM) launched the campaign on June 7 to raise awareness about the safe usage of medicines.
It warns that as many as 30% of people in France have already taken it upon themselves to change the dosage or treatment time of a prescribed medicine.
The ANSM data, from a 2021 study by the Viavoice institute, also said:
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20% of people in France have taken stronger doses or several medicines at the same time as a way to 鈥榮peed up treatment鈥�
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Almost 50% have given a prescription medication to people close to them who were experiencing similar symptoms, and 10% do this often or systematically
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34% said that they consider it 鈥榥ot really risky鈥� or 鈥榥ot at all risky鈥� to take medicines that have expired
The ANSM said: 鈥淢edicines are not ordinary products, we can鈥檛 take them lightly. Poor use of medicines can have serious consequences and cause more unwanted side effects.鈥�
Taking too much medication, even something such as paracetamol, can cause severe liver damage, which could even lead to a need for a transplant, the agency warns. And a medicine suitable for one person may be useless or dangerous for another, it said.
Read also: How long are medicine prescriptions valid in France?
鈥楳ajor public health challenge campaign鈥�
The agency鈥檚 new campaign includes billboards, a TV video ad, radio ads, an informational sheet for the public, and a letter sent to health professionals.
Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, director general of ANSM, said: 鈥淭he correct use of medicines is a major public health challenge that affects all of us, from health professionals to patients.鈥�
The ANSM warns that people should not change the dose, frequency, or duration of a prescribed medicine, nor give them to anyone else.
It said: 鈥淔ollow your healthcare professional's prescription (dose, frequency, duration, pay attention to the shelf life of medicines鈥nd do not take several medicines at the same time without the advice of a professional.鈥�
Read also: How seeing a GP (or rather not) for some issues is changing in France
Read also: France is set to switch to digital prescriptions. How will it work?
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