More Than 100 Drugs Listed as “To Avoid” in 2025

Publication Date: 2025/12/02 17:35:13

More than 100 drugs, some widely prescribed in France like Smecta, chondroitin, or antidiabetics, are classified “to avoid” by the independent journal Prescrire in 2025. This year, four new treatments join this list, including three marketed in France for menopause, chronic cough, or osteoarthritis.

Each year, the independent review Prescrire publishes its list of medications “to avoid,” pointing out treatments they deem more hazardous than useful. This year, 2025, more than a hundred products are highlighted, from long-standing concerns like Smecta (always criticized for its ineffectiveness and potential lead contamination) to the newest additions.

“They expose one to disproportionate adverse effects in view of a lack of demonstration of clinical effectiveness,” summarizes the review. When questioned by AFP, specialists had different opinions on PrescrireS choices. Some welcomed the journal’s independence, but others thought excluding drugs that can relieve painful conditions with few alternatives was too extreme.

What New Medications Should You avoid?