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in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
August 08, 2022
Faced with painful periods, the Spasfon often appears as the solution. However, he is not unanimous on Twitter, where he is accused of being a simple “placebo”. What should we think ? Is it really ineffective? Dr. Kierzek’s response.
Available without a prescription, Spasfon is widely used by women, especially during painful menstruation. However, this Thursday, July 28, hundreds of messages flourished on Twitter accusing the drug of being “ineffective”.
Some women denounce on Twitter the “inefficiency” of Spasfon
“Seeing the #spasfon in tt is finally for us girls, the moment to say that it is useless and that many doctors do not believe us. I have never seen more useless than this drug to fight against our pain”, begins @chloeecriture, while another Internet user, @elodie__dcst assures that “#spasfon and Doliprane do nothing against menstrual pain”.
Let us recall, in this respect, the role of the Spasfon. The tablet is composed of phloroglucinol, a molecule that acts on spasms. This little pink pill would therefore not be intended specifically for painful periods.
It would only allow “fight against abnormal and painful contractions of the intestine, bile ducts, urinary tract and uterus“, according to Vidal.
Spasfon’s SMR would be considered “low”
For the ” symptomatic treatment of painful spasmodic manifestations in gynecology “, the actual benefit (SMR) of the drug remains ” weak in indications “, indicates the High Authority for Health (HAS).
By the way, “no recommendation recommends the use of antispasmodics during pelvic pain regardless of its etiology (dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, IUD placement, etc.)”further specifies the organization, in a report dating from 2008.
In case of pain during menstruation, the Spasfon would therefore be a simple “auxiliary treatment”.
The use of ibuprofen, for short periods and at appropriate dosages, would be more recommended.
The tablet should not be banned for all that
Because, according to Dr. Kierzek, it is its use that needs to be reviewed.
” Certainly, the SMR of this drug is considered low… But Spasfon is not “ineffective” for all that. It is an adjunctive treatment that can be useful in relieving various gynecological symptoms. Moreover, whatever one says, even the “placebo effect” of a drug can be interesting. “says the emergency doctor.
However, he emphasizes, that in case of painful periods, the cause must be found, such as a potential endometriosis. It’s not inevitable to have pain during your period “.