Substandard cough syrups — Ambronol and Dok-1 max — contain contaminants that could lead to health hazards such as abdominal pain, urinary retention, and kidney damage, according to National National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
This is contained in a Twitter post by Drugs Counseling Nigeria, on January 18. According to the post, the syrups are toxic to human health.
“PUBLIC ALERT. NAFDAC is notifying the public of these two substandard. The products are contaminated with Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol which are toxic to humans when consumed. RT to save lives,” Drugs Counseling Nigeria tweeted.
WikkiTimes further confirmed the claim from NAFDAC’s official website where it is stated that the syrups were identified in Uzbekistan in Europe and reported to World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to NAFDAC, Laboratory analysis of the products’ samples undertaken by national quality control laboratories of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan found both products to contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and /or ethylene glycol as contaminants.
The manufacturer of both products is MARION BIOTECH PVT. LTD, (Uttar Pradesh, India). To date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of the syrups.
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Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.
The substandard syrups are, therefore, unsafe and their use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death.
Substandard medical products are products that fail to meet quality standards or specifications and are therefore marked “out of specification.”
Hafsah Muhammed Ibrahim, from Bauchi State, is a literary enthusiast and an advocate for women’s rights. As the Editor and Lead Podcaster at WikkiTimes, she draws on her background in Sociology and Education to create compelling narratives that amplify the voices of marginalized communities.
An avid Scrabble player and tea enthusiast, Hafsah blends her passion for storytelling with a strong commitment to driving social change.
