I showed a number of malaria symptoms in the week leading up to April 24th.I had increased thirst (had to take lot of water) fever, headache, fatigue, and body ache, but on Saturday April 24th, I experienced intense fatigue. These are familiar malaria symptoms to me, so I went to a Pharmacy to get an anti malaria drug.

I got a popular brand, (Drug Description: the name starts with an “L” and end with a “T” 24 tablets, 4 tablets per dose, Dosage Regimen, 2 doses per day for a total of 3 days) with NAFDAC Number boldly inscribed on it, due to expire August 2022. Need I mention that I had used this brand countless times over the years, and I can vouch for it.


Commenced usage (after meal of course) and few hours afterwards I developed a new symptom: an excruciating stomach pain so intense I was writhing in pain.

12 hours after the first dose, I took the 2nd dose after consuming a meal and a few hours afterwards I developed the stomach pain again. This time it caught my attention and I knew I couldn’t overlook this new symptom. Stomach pain is not a familiar malaria symptom to me. I considered discontinuing the use of the drug, but somehow I persisted and went ahead with the 3rd dose, after this, it was very clear something was trying to tear my digestive system apart. I was writhing in so much pain, I couldn’t speak. I spent the better part of that day lying down and clutching my stomach.
Inadvertently, I skipped the 4th dose, for a day, within the 24 hours, I felt the pain incessantly then it gradually became intermittently but still intense. I felt no other symptom indicating digestive tract infection ( No vomiting, No diarrhea, I wasn’t feeling as sick and I could move around.)
At this point I could still vouch for the quality of this drug, had used it countless times in times past, even for children and no unpleasant scenarios played out.

So I decided to proceed with the 4th dose, (it’s very important to always finish your dosage, even if you feel better prior). This time I decided to plant each tablet in a morsel of swallow, I don’t know what prompted me to do that though, but I did. After my meals I swallowed the tablet implanted morsels, few hours later the stomach pain started, it was continuous for hours. Without an iota of a doubt I knew there was a correlation between the anti malaria drug, and the stomach pain.
After I felt better I decided to check the genuineness of the anti malaria drug, so I scratched the silver panel concealing the pin and texted it to 38353 (I should have done this in the initial but for the trust I had in the brand). I sent the text a number of times and each time I got “Send Failed” reply.
SO
1. If I was administering this medicine to a child (½ adult dosage) I might have ignored or address stomach pain complaint with levity, thinking the child is definitely playing pranks to avoid the use of the medicine. What havoc that could cause.

2. Are the Manufacturers/ Pharmaceuticals behind this brand aware that there are thousands of counterfeits in the market? If they are aware what are they doing about it? The integrity of their brand is at stake.

3. Is the short code “38353” still valid for drug authentication? If not which short code is?

4. If an Individual is reasonably satisfied and comfortable to accept NAFDAC employment and remuneration from taxpayers’ money, then they should equally be comfortable and willing to perform the details of their Job Description without coercion or pressure. NAFDAC Officials should be held accountable.

5. What is the standard procedure for reporting occurrence like this? How can one report culpable Pharmacies and Pharmacists?

6. How can people in my neighborhood be informed about issues like this? Am lucky, what if others aren’t so lucky?
7. Should I politely confront the Pharmacist in charge of the Pharmacy I bought the drug from?

hmmm.......na GOD dey save us

Confront whom ever you bought it from

gingerlyx:
I showed a number of malaria symptoms in the week leading up to April 24th.I had increased thirst (had to take lot of water) fever, headache, fatigue, and body ache, but on Saturday April 24th, I experienced intense fatigue. These are familiar malaria symptoms to me, so I went to a Pharmacy to get an anti malaria drug.

I got a popular brand, (Drug Description: the name starts with an “L” and end with a “T” 24 tablets, 4 tablets per dose, Dosage Regimen, 2 doses per day for a total of 3 days) with NAFDAC Number boldly inscribed on it, due to expire August 2022. Need I mention that I had used this brand countless times over the years, and I can vouch for it.


Commenced usage (after meal of course) and few hours afterwards I developed a new symptom: an excruciating stomach pain so intense I was writhing in pain.

12 hours after the first dose, I took the 2nd dose after consuming a meal and a few hours afterwards I developed the stomach pain again. This time it caught my attention and I knew I couldn’t overlook this new symptom. Stomach pain is not a familiar malaria symptom to me. I considered discontinuing the use of the drug, but somehow I persisted and went ahead with the 3rd dose, after this, it was very clear something was trying to tear my digestive system apart. I was writhing in so much pain, I couldn’t speak. I spent the better part of that day lying down and clutching my stomach.
Inadvertently, I skipped the 4th dose, for a day, within the 24 hours, I felt the pain incessantly then it gradually became intermittently but still intense. I felt no other symptom indicating digestive tract infection ( No vomiting, No diarrhea, I wasn’t feeling as sick and I could move around.)
At this point I could still vouch for the quality of this drug, had used it countless times in times past, even for children and no unpleasant scenarios played out.

So I decided to proceed with the 4th dose, (it’s very important to always finish your dosage, even if you feel better prior). This time I decided to plant each tablet in a morsel of swallow, I don’t know what prompted me to do that though, but I did. After my meals I swallowed the tablet implanted morsels, few hours later the stomach pain started, it was continuous for hours. Without an iota of a doubt I knew there was a correlation between the anti malaria drug, and the stomach pain.
After I felt better I decided to check the genuineness of the anti malaria drug, so I scratched the silver panel concealing the pin and texted it to 38353 (I should have done this in the initial but for the trust I had in the brand). I sent the text a number of times and each time I got “Send Failed” reply.
SO
1. If I was administering this medicine to a child (½ adult dosage) I might have ignored or address stomach pain complaint with levity, thinking the child is definitely playing pranks to avoid the use of the medicine. What havoc that could cause.

2. Are the Manufacturers/ Pharmaceuticals behind this brand aware that there are thousands of counterfeits in the market? If they are aware what are they doing about it? The integrity of their brand is at stake.

3. Is the short code “38353” still valid for drug authentication? If not which short code is?

4. If an Individual is reasonably satisfied and comfortable to accept NAFDAC employment and remuneration from taxpayers’ money, then they should equally be comfortable and willing to perform the details of their Job Description without coercion or pressure. NAFDAC Officials should be held accountable.

5. What is the standard procedure for reporting occurrence like this? How can one report culpable Pharmacies and Pharmacists?

6. How can people in my neighborhood be informed about issues like this? Am lucky, what if others aren’t so lucky?
7. Should I politely confront the Pharmacist in charge of the Pharmacy I bought the drug from?

Op, the ACT brand you took might not really be fake like you assumed. Abdominal pains is one of the adverse effects of Artemether plus lumefantrine ACTs. Others include diarrhea, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, headache, joint pains, muscle pains etc. So, it is highly possible that what you experienced was an adverse reaction to the drug.

This is why we have been clamoring for the country to start getting things right as regards pharmacy practice in Nigeria. But the powers that be seem not interested in doing the right thing.

The standard practice is that when a drug is dispensed to you, you get counselled about the drug and its possible adverse effects and interactions (with other drugs, foods and diseases) by a licensed pharmacist. By so doing, you'll know what to expect while using your drugs.

But in Nigeria, everything goes! We have illiterates as politicians and they hardly understand the need to support our regulatory bodies like NAFDAC, PCN etc in checking how drugs are handled in the country.

Majority of our politicians don't know that any investment they make in the health sector is a waste of resources without a thoroughly regulated drug market!
Such lukewarm attitudes from the powers that be is what people are taking advantage of to bastardize our drug market.

That is why some individuals would open pharmacies without employing a superintendent pharmacist to man the premises. That is also why you have quacks selling drugs in the name of patent medicine dealership with zero knowledge about drugs!

I am very sure that 95% of Nigerians taking the same drug you took don't know that it has its contraindications, but let me leave that for another day.