National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned the public against consuming substandard Paracetamol received from Liberia. The Nigerian regulatory body has issued an official statement informing the public of a substandard paracetamol suspension PARA CLEAR SUSPENSION 125. It was obtained by the Liberian Medicine and Health Product Regulatory Authority for laboratory testing in the NAFDAC Central Drug Control Laboratory (CDCL). NAFDAC has confirmed that the product contains toxic ethylene glycol, a harmful chemical that is not expected in medical products. The drug also failed the requirement for acute oral toxicity, which led to the death of five laboratory animals recorded.
Toxic effects of ingesting such chemicals include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, acute kidney injury, and even death. Paracetamol Suspension is commonly used for mild to moderate aches and pain, including headaches, migraines, neuralgia, toothaches, sore throats, menstrual pains, and to reduce fever.
This specific product is not on NAFDAC’s official database; hence importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to be cautious and vigilant. NAFDAC stresses that all medical products should be procured from authorized/licensed dealers. The authenticity and physical condition of the products should also be carefully checked. The regulatory agency appeals to the public to refrain from purchasing medicinal products from unauthorized sources like roadside vendors and street hawkers as fake drugs are mostly smuggled into the country from neighbouring countries and distributed through such inappropriate channels. Always put your safety first and be mindful of the source of every medical product.
