It is a speech that the many victims of side effects of Levothyrox, a drug used by 3 million patients in France to treat thyroid diseases, certainly waited impatiently.

Agnès Buzyn, Minister of Solidarity and Health has indeed expressed on the subject at a press conference, and after meeting with patient associations, Wednesday, September 6, 2017.

One way, no doubt, to reassure and calm the spirits in anticipation of the rally organized next Friday before the National Assembly by associations, victims, health professionals and political figures demanding the withdrawal of the new formula of the drug.

Side effects "that do not endanger the lives of patients"

Thus, Agnès Buzyn recognizes that "patients experience real side effects" and believes that "it should not be minimized", while stating that "they are passengers for most of them". "These are noticeable effects, but they do not endanger the lives of patients," she insists.

And to add that "in the United States, this formula of Levothyrox has been marketed for ten years, without health alert to deplore", while recognizing anyway "a lack of information on the change of formula" . Indeed, in recent weeks, many patients denounced a real lack of information, especially from pharmacists, who for the most part evoked only the color change of the packaging of Levothyrox during its delivery.

She acknowledges that "there was a lack of information on the change of formula" and that "patients who experience adverse effects must be accompanied", but refutes the hypothesis of a possible fault or fraud.

Towards an opening of the French market to other formulas of Levothyrox?

According to her, "the only danger to the health of patients is to stop their treatment." She invites them to find " the right dosage with the help of their doctor."

But what to do to avoid this kind of situation in the future? Agnès Buzyn, as a precautionary measure, now wants to set up a working group so that patients and health professionals are better informed about medicines.

The Minister of Health also recognizes that "the fact that a single Levothyrox formula is available to patients nevertheless poses a problem" and promises a reflection on "the means of opening the French market to other alternative formulas. Levothyroxine "(the active ingredient of Levothyrox manufactured by Merck) as generics. On the other hand, no return of the old formulation in pharmacies is foreseen.

To date, a pharmacovigilance survey is still in progress and the results are expected in October 2017. Already nearly 5000 statements on the adverse effects of Levothyrox have been recorded on the portal (solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/soins-et -maladies / health-report-gouv-fr) set up by the National Agency for Health Products and Medicines (ANSM).