ALERT: NAFDAC warns Nigerians against counterfeit augmentin tablets in circulation
ALERT: NAFDAC warns Nigerians against counterfeit augmentin tablets in circulation
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public to the circulation of counterfeit Augmentin 625mg tablets in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday, the agency said the alert followed complaints received by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the genuine manufacturer of Augmentin, over suspected fake versions of the product in circulation.
According to NAFDAC, GSK confirmed the product was counterfeit after reviewing “documentary evidence, photographs, and a video from social media.”
“Although the product shared the same batch number as authentic stock previously supplied to Nigeria, it exhibited inconsistent manufacturing and expiry dates, indicating that it had been falsified,” the statement reads.
Providing details of the manufacturer’s investigation, the agency said batch AC3N was originally produced in Worthing, United Kingdom (UK), on August 23, 2023, and packed between September 19 and 20, 2023.
It added that “no batch with the number AC3N was produced in September 2025,” noting that the manufacturing and expiry dates on the suspected counterfeit samples, September 2025 and September 2028, respectively, “are inconsistent with GSK production records and cannot be attributed to a GSK-produced batch.”
NAFDAC said it also identified “packaging-level discrepancies, including textual errors and poor fin-seal quality.”
The agency warned that counterfeit medicines remain a major threat to public health.
“The use of counterfeit Augmentin 625mg tablets may result in treatment failure, worsening of bacterial infections, development of antimicrobial resistance, adverse drug reactions due to unknown or harmful ingredients, and delay in receiving appropriate medical care,” it said.
Augmentin, which contains amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, is commonly prescribed for the treatment of bacterial infections.
NAFDAC said all zonal directors and state coordinators had been directed to intensify surveillance and remove the counterfeit products from circulation across the country.
The agency advised importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers to obtain medicines only from authorised suppliers and carefully check the authenticity and physical condition of products before use.
“Consumers who have purchased or are currently using Augmentin 625mg tablets suspected to be counterfeit should stop using the product immediately and consult a qualified healthcare professional,” it added.
