NAFDAC Raises Alarm Over Counterfeit Augmentin Tablets Circulating in Nigeria

ByEditor

May 15, 2026 #Augmentin 625mg AC3N, #counterfeit antibiotics Nigeria, #counterfeit drugs in Nigeria, #fake Augmentin tablets Nigeria, #fake medicines alert Nigeria, #GlaxoSmithKline Augmentin warning, #NAFDAC counterfeit Augmentin, #NAFDAC public health alert

Pat Stevens/

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public health alert warning Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Augmentin 625mg tablets in the country.

The agency said the fake medicine, identified with Batch Number AC3N, poses a serious danger to public health because it may contain the wrong ingredients, insufficient active substances, no active ingredients at all, or even harmful substances.

According to NAFDAC, the alert followed reports received from GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of the genuine Augmentin product, after several complaints emerged over suspected fake packs being sold in Nigeria.

Augmentin, which contains amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, is a commonly used antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Health experts warn that counterfeit antibiotics can lead to treatment failure, worsening infections, drug resistance, or severe health complications.

NAFDAC disclosed that GSK carried out an investigation after reviewing documents, photographs, and videos circulating on social media and confirmed that the product was counterfeit.

The manufacturer explained that although the fake product carried the same batch number as authentic stock previously supplied to Nigeria, the manufacturing and expiry dates did not match official production records.

According to the investigation, Batch AC3N was genuinely manufactured at GSK’s Worthing facility in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2023 and packed between September 19 and 20, 2023.

However, the counterfeit sample circulating in Nigeria falsely indicated that it was manufactured in September 2025 with an expiry date of September 2028, a timeline GSK said was impossible and inconsistent with its records.

The investigation also uncovered noticeable packaging defects, including textual errors and poor sealing quality, further confirming that the product was fake.

NAFDAC warned healthcare providers, pharmacists, medicine vendors, and members of the public to remain vigilant and immediately stop the sale, distribution, or use of any suspected counterfeit stock.

The agency advised hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies to inspect their shelves and quarantine any suspicious packs of Augmentin 625mg tablets bearing Batch Number AC3N.

NAFDAC also urged Nigerians to report any suspected fake or compromised medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, call its toll-free line on 0800-162-3322, or send complaints via email to sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.

The agency stressed that counterfeit medicines remain a major threat to public health and urged consumers to purchase drugs only from licensed pharmacies and reputable healthcare facilities.