The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control has alerted the public to the circulation of a fake anti-hypertensive drug.

NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja said the drug, Hydrochlorothiazide 50mg (containing Glibenclamide) was already on sale in Cameroun.

“NAFDAC is alerting the public, especially healthcare providers, to the circulation of confirmed faked Hydrochlorothiazide 50mg tablets in Cameroun.

“The faked product has been found to contain Glibenclamide instead of Hydrochlorothiazide.

“In March, the World Health Organisation was informed by an NGO in Cameroun that a medicine, presented as Hydrochlorothiazide 50mg tablets, has caused hypoglycaemia (deficiency of glucose in the bloodstream) in patients.

“Confirmatory laboratory analysis has established that the product did not contain hydrochlorothiazide, the stated active ingredient; rather, glibenclamide was instead identified,” Adeyeye said.

She explained that the genuine version of the drug was for treatment of hypertension, while the falsified medicine poses grave danger to patients.

“Hydrochlorothiazide is used as an anti-hypertensive and diuretic medicine, whereas Glibenclamide is an anti-diabetic medicine.

“The falsified medicine presents a risk for patients who take hydrochlorothiazide for the treatment of hypertension.