Drugs with unproven efficacy. 2021 WHO List

Name of a medicinal product with unproven therapeutic efficacy Characteristics of the drug Agri Agri is a homeopathic remedy also found under the trade name Antigrippin. This drug cannot have pharmacological effectiveness, since the therapeutic benefit of homeopathy itself has not been scientifically confirmed. Mebikar This drug also has other trade names in the form of Adaptol and Mebix. According to the instructions for this medication, it is shown to be used in the presence of feelings of anxiety, anxiety, sleep disorder. In fact, the active substance Mebikar is completely unknown and has not undergone any clinical studies. Heptral Heptral is a hepatoprotector with antioxidant properties, which is prescribed for cirrhosis, inflammation of the liver. At the same time, there are no scientifically confirmed data that its main component, ademetionine, has positive therapeutic properties. Acridon Acridone is a drug that is included in the group of immunomodulators. On the basis of this medication, interferon inducers have been created in the form of Cycloferon and Neovir. In fact, these drugs have not undergone full-fledged research regarding their safety, mechanism of action and distribution in the human body. Actovegin Actovegin is a medicine that has the second trade name Solcoseryl. This product is made on the basis of protein extracted from the blood of young calves. This remedy is prescribed for heart attack, venous insufficiency, traumatic brain injury. Laboratory evidence of the therapeutic efficacy of this medication is completely lacking. Alpizarin Alpizarin is a drug based on tetrahydroxyglucopyranosylxanth. This medication is declared as a herbal antiviral drug. Alpizarin is prescribed for the treatment of herpes viruses of all genotypes. At the same time, for the scientific world, this tool remains unknown. Amiksin Amiksin is a drug created to combat the causative agent of herpes infection, the influenza virus, and also acts as an interferon inducer. In most developed countries of the world, this medication is officially banned due to the fact that it provokes a large number of side effects and is not a safe medicine. Analgin Analgin is a drug that has proven therapeutic efficacy. At the same time, this drug carries no less danger to the human body. There are many anti-inflammatory and pain relieving medications that are safer. For example, Indomethacin or Ibuprofen. Anaferon Anaferon is a drug that, according to its manufacturer, contains purified human interferon gamma antibodies. The medication is indicated for the treatment of acute respiratory diseases. In fact, interferon does not show therapeutic efficacy for people with ARVI. Arbidol Arbidol is a drug that was developed by scientists of the USSR at the end of the 70s of the last century. Currently, there are no clinically confirmed data on the medicinal properties of this medication. Afobazol Afobazol is a drug that is prescribed in the following clinical cases:

• various forms of neurasthenia;
• anxiety disorder;
• feeling of constant anxiety;
• cardiopsychoneurosis.

The active substance of this drug has never undergone full laboratory tests for its safety and therapeutic efficacy.

Aflubin Aflubin is a homeopathic remedy, the therapeutic benefit of which has not been proven, since in fact this drug does not belong to the category of medicines. Betulin Betulin is a biologically active additive of domestic production, which has the following effect:

• antiviral;
• antineoplastic;
• hepatoprotective;
• choleretic;
• antioxidant.

The manufacturer of this drug focuses on the fact that Betulin can be used in the treatment of HIV infection. In this case, the active component of this product is birch bark extract obtained from birch.

Bioparox Bioparox is a natural protein-based antibiotic that is a local-spectrum drug. Clinical studies have shown that this medication does not create the effect of sufficient concentration in the tissues of the upper respiratory tract and nasopharynx. Huato boluses Huato boluses are a Chinese herbal medicine that is intended for the prevention of cerebral stroke. In this case, the composition of this tool contains the following components:

• sophora;
• ginseng;
• gentian;
• Activated carbon;
• cinnamon;
• honey.

Modern medicine does not confirm the fact that taking the above-mentioned herbal extracts and other substances will protect a person from a stroke.

Validol Validol is a drug that is produced on the basis of menthol. Most scientists believe that this substance causes the rapid expansion of blood vessels. At the same time, there is no laboratory evidence that menthol really has this effect. Valocordin Valocordin is a drug that is positioned by its manufacturer as a quick relief for heart attack. In fact, this medication does not have properties for the treatment of cardiac diseases. The active substances of Valocordin in the form of ethyl alcohol and phenobarbital have a pronounced sedative effect, but nothing more. Viburcol Viburcol is a homeopathic remedy that, from the point of view of traditional medicine, has no proven therapeutic efficacy. Vizomitin Visomitin is an ophthalmic drug developed by Russian pharmacists. This medication is intended for the treatment of cataracts, has antioxidant and keratoprotective properties. At the same time, Vizomitin did not undergo clinical trials in terms of the pharmacodynamics of its constituent components. Vitaprost Vitaprost is a drug also found under the trade name Prostatilen or Uroprost. The active ingredient of this drug for prostatitis is an extract obtained from the tissues of the prostate gland of cattle. The pharmacokinetic properties of this medication are unknown, since laboratory studies have not been carried out in this direction. Galavit Galavit is a drug that is an immunomodulator. This drug is used in the treatment of the following diseases:

• ARVI;
• influenza virus;
• peritonitis;
• toxic shock;
• stomatitis;
• various kinds of inflammatory diseases of an infectious nature of origin.

At the same time, there is completely no reliable information regarding the biochemical properties of the active component of this agent.

Helmina Helmina is a plant-based anthelminthic drug that contains the following components:

• immortelle;
• tansy flowers;
• wormwood herb;
• pumpkin seeds;
• Birch buds.

The drug Gelmina is actually a herbal tincture with ethyl alcohol, but this drug has not been tested in laboratory tests.

Hyporamine Hyporamine is a herbal medicine that is prescribed to treat the flu virus. There is no reliable information about the effectiveness of this tool. Gliatilin Gliatilin is a drug developed to treat a serious CNS disorder called Alzheimer's disease. At the same time, the active substance of the drug has not undergone any clinical trials. The health authorities classify Gliatilin as a dietary supplement. Glycine Glycine is a nootropic and neuroprotective agent that improves brain function, promotes more active recovery from a stroke. The active substance of this medication is an amino acid, which is not able to penetrate from the digestive tract into the central nervous system. Therefore, the therapeutic effect of this drug is highly questionable. Homeostres Homeostres is a sedative that belongs to the category of homeopathic medicines that have not undergone any laboratory tests for their therapeutic effectiveness. Derinat Derinat is an immunomodulator, as well as a stimulator of a more active process of hematopoiesis. The medication is used to treat viral, bacterial and fungal infections. At the same time, there is no official information on the therapeutic efficacy of the active substance of this drug in the form of sodium deoxyribonucleate. Detralex Detralex is a drug that belongs to the pharmacological group of venotonics and drugs that strengthen the walls of venous vessels. The active component of this medication is a fraction of biologically active substances of flavonoids, which have undergone industrial purification. The pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of these biochemicals are unknown. Dimephosphone Dimephosphone is a drug that was created back in 1975. This medication is used to treat the following diseases:

• migraine;
• vegetative dystonia;
• bronchial asthma;
• osteochondrosis;
• consequences of brain trauma;
• multiple sclerosis.

The active substance of this drug in the form of dimethyloxobutylphosphonyldimethylate is still not fully understood.

Idebenone Idebenone is a drug that has a similar biochemical composition to the drug Ubiquinone. This drug was developed for the treatment of psychoorganic syndrome that arose after a previous stroke or brain injury. There are currently no official data on the effectiveness of this medication. Imunorix Imunorix is ​​an immunostimulant used to treat tracheitis, chronic tonsillitis, and inflammatory diseases of the paranasal sinuses. Several scientific studies have been carried out on this drug, but without drawing up objective laboratory conclusions about its safety and therapeutic efficacy. Imunofan Imunofan is an oligopeptide-based immunomodulator that is used to treat the following conditions:

• chlamydia;
• obstructive processes in the lungs;
• brucellosis;
• malignant neoplasms;
• toxoplasmosis;
• herpes infection.

For this drug, there is completely no reliable information about the mechanism of action of its active substance. Objective studies regarding the properties of Imunofan have also not been conducted.

Ingavirin Ingavirin is an antiviral agent based on pentanedioic acid. This medication is indicated for use in ARVI and infection of the body with the influenza virus. The principle of action of the active substance of this drug is unknown, since its testing in this direction has not been carried out. Ingaron Ingaron is a drug that contains interferon gamma. The manufacturer of this medicinal product indicates that the medication can be used for inflammatory diseases of the liver, prostate gland, tuberculosis, and chlamydia. At the same time, laboratory testing of Ingaron was carried out only in terms of its use for the treatment of hepatitis. For other diseases, the effectiveness of the drug has not been proven. Indinol Indinol is a dietary supplement based on indole-3-carbinol, which is sold under the guise of a drug for papilloma virus, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and mastopathy. Currently, this drug is undergoing clinical trials in terms of its effectiveness against tumor neoplasms. Indinol testing is carried out on animals. The safety and effectiveness of this agent for the human body is still unknown. Cavinton Cavinton is a drug that is sold by retail pharmacy chains under the trade names Vinpocetin, Oxybral. This drug is made on the basis of the alkaloids of the lesser periwinkle plant. According to the manufacturer's instructions, Cavinton is indicated for use in patients suffering from the following diseases:

• cerebral stroke;
• age-related dementia;
• headache attacks;
• atherosclerosis.

The mechanism of action of the active substance of the drug Cavinton has not yet been studied. At the same time, there are officially confirmed facts of the ineffectiveness of this medication.

Karipain and also Karipazim These drugs contain papain in their composition. These funds are used to treat chronic osteochondrosis, the consequences of skin burns, as well as pathological conditions of the joints. Reliable studies on the therapeutic efficacy of the drugs Karipain and Karipazim have not been conducted. Quinax Quinax is an ophthalmic cataract treatment. Moreover, this drug has never passed preclinical and clinical trials. Corvalol Corvalol is a medication that is used in cardiology. In fact, this drug has exactly the same properties as Valocordin. Therefore, its effectiveness in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases has not been proven. Cortexin Cortexin is a nootropic drug with neuroprotective properties, which is indicated for use in the treatment of the following diseases:

• encephalitis;
• stroke;
• asthenia;
• encephalopathy.

The active substances of this medication are biochemical compounds obtained from the brain of pigs and cattle. The medicinal properties of Cortexin have not been confirmed by full-fledged laboratory studies.

Laennec Laennec is an injection solution obtained from the placenta. This drug has pronounced hepatoprotective properties, helps to get rid of atopic dermatitis, herpes infection and fatty hepatosis. The effectiveness of this medication has not been proven due to the lack of objective information about its biochemical composition.