NAFDAC bans 101 drugs including Flagyl, Artemether-Lumefantrine
Nigeria’s regulatory agency for medicines, NAFDAC, has issued a directive that bans more than 100 drug products, including well-known ones like Artemether/Lumefantrine and Flagyl.
The announcement came via the agency’s official communication, listing products that are no longer permitted for manufacture, importation, sale, advertisement, or use.
Among the affected medicines is Artemether/Lumefantrine 40mg/240mg tablets, a commonly used antimalarial, and Flagyl suspension, often prescribed for infections.
NAFDAC explained that some of the withdrawn products had certificates of registration discontinued or suspended. Reasons include instability of formulations after reconstitution, failure to meet safety or efficacy standards, and non-compliance with registration conditions.
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Specifically, the agency warned that the Multi-Dose Artemether/Lumefantrine dry powder oral suspension is unstable once mixed, degrading over time and risking loss of potency.
Local manufacturers and importers of such affected products were instructed to halt production, distribution, and use immediately. Renewal or new registration applications for those products are no longer accepted.
Distributors, retailers, and healthcare professionals have been ordered to withdraw the banned items from all shelves and inventories.
Consumers were urged to stop using these drugs and to report any sales or usage of such items to NAFDAC via its reporting channels.
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The banned list also includes several other pharmaceutical brands across different therapeutic areas, including treatments for malaria, infections, and chronic conditions.
NAFDAC says it has tasked its zonal and state coordinators to intensify surveillance to mop up the affected products across all states.
Warnings were issued that continuing violation could lead to prosecution under the relevant laws governing pharmaceutical regulation.
The agency also confirmed that these measures comply with international monitoring systems, including WHO surveillance of medicines.
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