NAFDAC Warns Nigerians Over Circulation of Counterfeit Augmentin Tablets
The warning was contained in the agency’s “Public Alert No. 024/2026,” where it disclosed that the falsified medication is being sold in packs of 2 x 7 tablets bearing Batch No. AC3N.
According to NAFDAC, the alert followed reports and complaints received from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the authorised marketer of Augmentin products in Nigeria, regarding suspected fake versions of the antibiotic circulating within the country.
The agency stated that investigations carried out by GSK confirmed the product as counterfeit after examining documentary evidence, photographs and videos shared on social media platforms.
Although the fake medicine carried the same batch number as an authentic Augmentin batch previously distributed in Nigeria, discrepancies in the manufacturing and expiry dates exposed the product as falsified.
NAFDAC disclosed that the genuine Batch AC3N was originally manufactured at GSK’s Worthing facility in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2023, and packaged between September 19 and 20, 2023.
However, the counterfeit version reportedly carried manufacturing and expiry dates of September 2025 and September 2028 respectively dates which the manufacturer confirmed do not exist in its official production records.
Further investigations also uncovered noticeable packaging defects, including spelling and textual errors as well as poor-quality sealing, which helped confirm the products as fake.
The agency warned that Augmentin, which contains amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, is commonly used for treating bacterial infections, stressing that counterfeit medicines may contain harmful substances, incorrect dosages, or no active ingredients at all.
NAFDAC therefore advised healthcare providers, pharmacists, distributors and medicine vendors to immediately inspect their stock and isolate any suspected counterfeit products from circulation.
The agency also urged Nigerians to report suspected fake medicines or medical products to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its official complaint channels.
