THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted members of the public to the result of an investigation by BBC revealing an Indian pharmaceutical company, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, manufacturing unlicensed, highly addictive opioids and exporting them illegally to some West African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D’Ivoire.
Aveo Pharmaceuticals is based in Mumbai and makes a range of pills that go under different brand names and are packaged to look like legitimate medicines.
These falsified products, according to NAFDAC, contain harmful combination ingredients namely tapentadol and carisoprodol. Tapentadol is a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant, so addictive that it is banned in Europe.
“The combination of the two drugs is not licensed for use anywhere in the world as they can cause breathing difficulties and seizures, and an overdose can kill. Despite the risks, these opioids are popular as street drugs in many West African countries because they are so cheap and widely available.
Product details:
- Product Brand Name: Tafrodol
- Product Manufacturer: Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai, India.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of sale of these products or any substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322 or send an email to sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
Eighteen-Eleven Media