The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has issued a warning against using two Indian cough syrups discovered in Uzbekistan.
According to the government, the syrups, Ambronol syrup and DOK-1 Max syrup, are subpar.
Substandard medical items are those that do not fulfill quality standards or specifications and hence fall short of the mark.
The FDA took action in October against the usage of four cough syrups produced in India that were related to the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia.
The alert, titled “Public Alert No. 02/2023,” obtained by our correspondent on the agency’s website on Monday, stated that laboratory analysis of samples of both products conducted by national quality control laboratories of the Republic of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health revealed that both products contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants.
Marion Biotech Private Limited, Uttar Pradesh, India, is listed as the maker of both items.
“To far, the indicated producer has not offered assurances to the World Health Organization on the safety and quality of these items,” the public advisory noted.
“Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are poisonous to humans and can be lethal if eaten. Abdominal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhoea, difficulty to pass urine, headaches, changed mental state, and severe renal damage, which can lead to death, are all toxic consequences.
“As a result, these poor items are dangerous, and their usage, particularly in minors, may result in serious damage or death.”
NAFDAC also encouraged syrup producers that utilize excipients such as propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, and/or glycerin/glycerol to screen for impurities such as ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol before using them in medications.
“Although the products are not on the NAFDAC database, importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance across the supply chain to prevent the importation, distribution, sale, and use of the substandard (contaminated) syrups.
“All medical goods must be bought from authorized/licensed vendors. “The legitimacy and physical quality of the items should be thoroughly examined,” it stated.
NAFDAC also advised Nigerians who own the goods to stop selling or using them and return any remaining stock to its headquarters.
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