Alain Astier, a member of the French Academy of Medicine, advocates for the complete withdrawal of over-the-counter cold medications containing pseudoephedrine due to their potential to cause severe side effects, including strokes and heart attacks. He criticizes the efficacy of these products, arguing that they should either be proven useful or removed from the market entirely. The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) has previously raised concerns about their safety, reflecting a divide between French and European health authorities on the issue.