Over 80% of Over-the-Counter Medicines Raise Concerns, Investigation Reveals

Led by journalist Sophie Coisne, the publication examined the composition, labeling, and warnings of more than 100 health products with the assistance of specialized healthcare professionals. The findings indicate that while non-prescription remedies offer consumers the dual legitimacy of open access and pharmacy availability, the vast majority fall short of demonstrating clear clinical benefits without associated risks.

Strict Approval Criteria Highlight Efficiency Gaps

Out of the products evaluated in the assessment, only a little over one out of ten earned a definitive green light from reviewing health professionals. According to 60 millions de consommateurs, these approved items are characterized by proven efficacy, minimal side effects relative to their benefits, and clear packaging displaying both usage instructions and contraindications. Several of these top-tier products function as over-the-counter versions of prescription medications, featuring identical active ingredients at lower dosages—particularly formulas designed to treat acne, allergies, and occasional sleep disturbances. Others rely on single-ingredient plant extracts backed by documented clinical effectiveness.

Conversely, products analyzed in the assessment were categorized as possessing low efficacy but remaining relatively safe for consumers. Many of these products, such as homeopathic remedies like Cocculine, motion-sickness bands like Apaisenausées, or menopausal hot-flash treatments like Abufène, rely heavily on placeholder effects or straightforward safety profiles, provided users strictly follow package warnings. However, other products in this bracket feature complicated precautions—such as avoiding sun exposure after applying the anti-blemish treatment Apaisyl—or contain undesirable inactive ingredients including artificial flavorings, colorants, and allergens.

Problematic Formulations and Unfavorable Benefit-Risk Ratios

The investigation identified 35 specific products as problematic due to distinct safety, efficacy, or formulation concerns. According to 60 millions de consommateurs, these items fail standard evaluation metrics across several key categories:

• Unfavorable Benefit-Risk Ratios: Sore throat lozenges often contain local anesthetics that can cause swallowing difficulties or, in severe cases, convulsions, outstripping the minor, temporary relief they provide compared to simple sugar-free hard candies. Similarly, cold medications such as Sinufix carry documented risks of allergic reactions and digestive disturbances.
• Proven Inefficacy: Certain dietary supplements incorporate plants lacking clinical backing for their indicated use, or utilize ingredients entirely unrelated to the targeted condition, such as specific herbal additives in menstrual comfort formulas.
• Exceeded Safety Limits: Certain treatments push ingredient thresholds beyond recommended safety caps, including elevated vitamin B6 dosages identified in menopausal remedies like Taïdo MénoActiv.
• Inappropriate Target Demographics: Formulations frequently incorporate essential oils that prove overly irritating to mucosal membranes or act as allergens, rendering them poorly suited for treatments targeting acne-prone skin, nasal congestion, or insect bites.
• <Erroneous Instructions: Product packaging occasionally provides misleading guidance, such as sleep aids recommending nighttime re-administration that can disrupt natural circadian rhythms, or menopausal products omitting warnings for women with histories of hormone-dependent cancers despite containing phytoestrogens.

The findings emphasize that self-medication requires rigorous scrutiny from consumers. Even plant-based remedies and over-the-counter health solutions demand careful evaluation of active ingredients, dosages, and contraindications before regular use.