The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert regarding falsified OxyContin 80mg (oxycodone hydrochloride), which was recently discovered in an unregulated market in Switzerland.
In a statement released on its website on Thursday (Public Alert No. 07/2025), NAFDAC revealed that the falsified medication was flagged by the World Health Organization (WHO) following a report from the genuine manufacturer, MUNDIPHARMA, in February 2025.
What You Need to Know About the Fake OxyContin
- The counterfeit product imitates the legitimate OxyContin 80mg, which is authorized for sale in Poland and used for treating moderate to severe pain.
- Lab tests conducted by the Drug Information Centre (DIZ) in Zurich, Switzerland, confirmed that the fake pills do not contain oxycodone. Instead, they contain a synthetic opioid likely to be a nitazene compound.
- Nitazene derivatives (such as metonitazene, isotonitazene, and fluonitazene) are highly potent synthetic opioids with a high risk of addiction and overdose.
- These substances can be hundreds of times stronger than oxycodone, posing severe health risks, including respiratory depression, coma, and death.
Key Differences Between the Fake and Genuine OxyContin
- Placement of Batch and Expiry Dates:
- Fake OxyContin: The batch and expiry dates are on the front of the blister strip.
- Genuine OxyContin: These details are on the back of the blister strip.
- Positioning of Dates:
- Fake Product: Expiry date is on the left, and batch number is on the right.
- Genuine Product: Batch number is on the left, and expiry date is on the right.
NAFDAC’s Response and Public Advisory
NAFDAC has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and retrieve any falsified OxyContin products found in Nigeria.
The agency urges importers, distributors, and healthcare professionals to exercise caution and avoid selling or using the counterfeit medication.
How to Report Suspicious Products
- Call NAFDAC: 0800-162-3322
- Email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
- Report Online: www.nafdac.gov.ng
- Use the Med-Safety App (available on Android and iOS)
- Pharmacovigilance Email: pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng
NAFDAC warns the public to only buy medical products from authorized suppliers and report any suspected fake drugs to the agency.
