Woman recounts near-death experience over fake Augmentin drug
A woman on twitter has recounted her near-death experience, after ingesting fake drug. She shares her story as the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) warns the public on the distribution of fake Augmentin brand in the Nigeria’s drug market.
The tweep, Victoria O (@Nmaunique1), said, “In 2019, I almost lost my life to fake drugs. This is 2022 and a drug as expensive as Augmentin 625 mg couldn’t do anything for me after taking it for 4 days, I still felt I was dying & the headache kept increasing”.
“After doing lab & talking drugs for days with no improvement. I’m going to start another phase of treatment. The headache is refusing to go away. I’m so weak & tired,” she said.
TheCornet reports NAFDAC as saying it detected “suspected falsified Augmentin 625mg Tablets in circulation within the country”.
The details of the suspected falsified Augmentin 625mg Tabs, NAFDAC said, are as follows: Augmentin 625mg; Batch No: 562626; Manufacturing date: April 2021; Expiry date: April 2024; NAFDAC Reg No: 04-1928.
The regulator also identified the wrong labeling on the adulterated drug, in order to distinguish it from the original.
The NAFDAC said the fake drug variant has no inscription specifying where product is manufactured, but states “only the address”. It adds that the “manufacturing and expiry dates on the fake product do not meet the acceptable format; no mobile authentication smart (MAS) scratch number to verify its authenticity; the logo “gsk” is not properly positioned as on the original.”
“In view of the above, NAFDAC has notified all its formations in the zones and 36 states of the federation including the FCT to carry out surveillance and mop up the falsified Augmentin tablets.
“Please note that the genuine Augmentin 625mg has legible product labeling information including date markings – expiration and manufactured dates, batch number and NAFDAC registration number.”
The agency advises drug wholesalers, distributors, and pharmacies on the need to increase vigilance to avoid infiltration of the falsified product. It equally urges citizens to “report any suspicion of adverse drug reaction and substandard and falsified medicines to NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng”
