Drugs to avoid

Excerpt

Therapeutics Letter 108 is based on Prescrire’s “Drugs to avoid: 2017 update”, which provided a rigorous assessment of the harm-benefit balance of drugs and indications. This fifth annual review of drugs to avoid includes all medicines examined by Prescrire between 2010 and 2017 and authorized in the European Union. It identifies 91 drugs that are more harmful than beneficial. Prescrire is one of a small number of drug bulletins in the world, which reports on prescription drugs and is completely independent of industry influence. This Letter includes drugs on the Prescrire list that are currently available in Canada, with tables providing indications, a summary of the reasons to avoid, and Prescrire’s suggestions for better alternatives.