“Stop using it immediately” warns ANSM if you have this symptom

When will they be permanently banned? This is the question we ask ourselves while reading the letter sent by the National Agency for Medicines (ANSM) on February 12 to general practitioners, allergists, ENT doctors, pharmacists, neurologists, emergency doctors and pulmonologists. In this letter, the Authority informs healthcare professionals of new contraindications and warnings added to the instructions for medicines containing pseudo-ephedrine. Pseudoephedrine nasal congestion (Cold nose) or due to sinus common coldRhinitis AllergicVasomotor rhinitis or otitis However, cases of barotrauma, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), which are Serious conditions affecting the blood vessels of the brainIt has been reported in patients taking these drugs.

Beware of “thunderclap” headaches

Symptoms of these serious side effects appear acutely, in hours or days which follows the catch. These include sudden and severe headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, seizures and/or visual disturbances. But above all, in cases of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, a “thunderclap” headache occurs. This is characterized by severe pain The head reaches for it Peak in secondsUsually bilateral (both sides), with posterior onset (behind the head) followed by pain diffuse Frequent nausea, with photophobia (difficulty tolerating light) and phonophobia (difficulty tolerating sound). “Patients should be counseled about the needStop using these medicines immediately

and seek medical attention if signs or symptoms of PRES or RCVS appear.” Indicates a health agency that recommends against the use of pseudo-ephedrine-based medicines in case of colds. Although most cases resolved after discontinuation of treatment and there were no deaths, the ANSM recalls that major complications of RCVS syndrome include ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. In conclusion, she believes that “Newly identified risks of PRES or RCVS should be considered as part of the overall safety profile of pseudoephedrine, including Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ischemic events“.