The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians of the discovery of a life threatening Coco Samba Herbal Mixture 100ml in circulation in the country.
The Agency said that the product was scrutinised after being seized by German customs and subsequently analyzed by the German Official Medicines Control Laboratory (OMCL), and that the report from the analysis revealed that the product contained undeclared amount of sildenafil at 150mg, exceeding the maximum daily dose for sildenafil. It said that Sildenafil is a medicine usually prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
NAFDAC said that further investigations showed that its (NAFDAC) Registration Number on the product “A4-9149” is falsified, different from the genuine product’s registration number obtained from the NAFDAC database, which is “A8-4418L.” NAFDAC’s laboratory analysis corroborated the presence of undeclared sildenafil content.
“What you should know is that Sildenafil may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, potentially causing a significant drop in blood pressure that could be life-threatening.
“Individuals with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease, who often take nitrates, are particularly at risk.
“While the falsified product was intercepted in Germany, there is a possibility that it may have been distributed within the country through informal channels.
“It is crucial to detect and remove it from circulation promptly to prevent harm to consumers.
“NAFDAC urges importers, distributors, retailers and healthcare providers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain, avoiding the importation, distribution, sale, and administration or use of falsified or substandard medicinal products.”
The Agency insisted that all medical products must be obtained from authorized and licensed suppliers, with a thorough check of authenticity and physical condition.
It asked members of the public in possession of the mentioned product to discontinue its sale or use and submit the stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
“It is essential not to use this falsified product. “Individuals who have used the product or experienced any adverse reactions or events after use are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.”
