20 Common Drugs Nigerians Abuse and Their Side Effects

In Nigeria, self-medication is rampant.

Should you stroll into any chemist or pharmacy, you’ll doubtless see individuals demanding particular medication and not using a prescription. Nigerians have normalised the unsupervised use of over-the-counter and prescription medications for “small” diseases like physique ache, lack of sleep, abdomen upset, or “rest room an infection.”

Beneath all of this lies a silent epidemic of drug misuse, one which results in organ failure, resistant infections, habit, and even demise. Listed here are 20 generally abused medication in Nigeria, how they’re wrongly used, and the harmful long-term penalties of this behavior:

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20 Generally Abused Medication In Nigeria

1. Paracetamol (Panadol, Emzor)

• Used for: Gentle to reasonable ache, fever

• Abuse: Taken for each slight headache, waist ache, or tiredness, generally a number of occasions each day.

• Aspect Results: Liver overload could happen with out seen signs till the late levels.

• Ailments: Silent liver injury, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, liver failure.

2. Vitamin C (Redoxon, Celvite, Vitac-C)

• Used for: Boosting immunity and therapeutic

• Abuse: Chewed like sweets or taken in extra for glowing pores and skin or normal wellness.

• Aspect Results: Will increase abdomen acid and kidney load.

• Ailments: Kidney stones, gastritis, abdomen ulcers.

3. Flagyl (Metronidazole)

• Used for: Bacterial and parasitic infections

• Abuse: Generally taken after unprotected intercourse or after utilizing public bathrooms, with out medical affirmation.

• Aspect Results: Nausea, metallic style, nerve issues.

• Ailments: Peripheral neuropathy, antibiotic resistance, extreme diarrhoea (C. difficile an infection).

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4. Ibuprofen (Brufen, Nurofen)

• Used for: Irritation, menstrual cramps, complications

• Abuse: Used casually for hangovers, delicate complications, and joint ache.

• Aspect Results: Damages abdomen lining, impacts kidney perform.

• Ailments: Abdomen ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney illness.

5. Diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam)

• Used for: Arthritis, again ache, sprains

• Abuse: Swallowed for each waist, neck, or joint ache.

• Aspect Results: Will increase blood stress, strains kidneys.

• Ailments: Hypertension, kidney failure.

6. Amoxicillin

• Used for: Bacterial infections like sore throat, pneumonia

• Abuse: Taken for colds, coughs, catarrh, most of that are viral, not bacterial.

• Aspect Results: Allergy, rash, resistance

• Ailments: Drug-resistant infections, therapy failures, superinfections.

7. Ampiclox (Ampicillin + Cloxacillin)

• Used for: Respiratory or pores and skin infections

• Abuse: Used casually for “rest room infections” and typhoid with out exams.

• Aspect Results: Pores and skin reactions, diarrhoea, resistance

• Ailments: Ineffective therapy, antibiotic resistance.

8. Alabukun

• Used for: Complications, fever

• Abuse: Blended with alcohol, mushy drinks, as a “cleanser” or hangover treatment.

• Aspect Results: Blood thinning, abdomen lining irritation

• Ailments: Peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, and low blood clotting.

9. Septrin (Co-trimoxazole)

• Used for: Urinary and respiratory tract infections

• Abuse: Taken blindly for typhoid or rest room infections

• Aspect Results: Extreme pores and skin reactions, lowered blood cell manufacturing

• Ailments: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, anaemia.

10. Piriton (Chlorphenamine)

• Used for: Allergy symptoms

• Abuse: Used as a sleeping tablet or weight achieve booster

• Aspect Results: Extreme drowsiness, confusion

• Ailments: Reminiscence loss, blurred imaginative and prescient, poor coordination.

11. Cough Syrup with Codeine (e.g., Benylin with Codeine, Phensedyl)

• Used for: Suppressing extreme cough and relieving throat irritation

• Abuse: Usually misused as a leisure drug for its calming and euphoric results. Ceaselessly combined with alcohol, mushy drinks, or different substances to get excessive, particularly amongst younger adults.

• Aspect Results: Excessive drowsiness, gradual reflexes, slurred speech, constipation, dependency

• Ailments: Kidney failure, liver illness, respiratory melancholy, medical melancholy, and habit

12. Funbact A / Skineal

• Used for: Pores and skin infections

• Abuse: Rubbed each day or combined with lotions and oils for pores and skin firming or child skincare

• Aspect Results: Pores and skin thinning, fungal overgrowth

• Ailments: Steroid zits, everlasting stretch marks, pores and skin infections.

13. Andrews Liver Salt

• Used for: Bloating, indigestion

• Abuse: Used regularly for “cleansing abdomen” or after overeating

• Aspect Results: Excessive sodium ranges, potassium drop

• Ailments: Hypertension, coronary heart pressure, metabolic imbalance.

14. Tramadol

• Used for: Reasonable to extreme ache reduction, particularly after surgical procedure or damage

• Abuse: Broadly misused by younger individuals for “additional vitality,” extended intercourse, or to remain excessive/alert. Usually taken with alcohol, vitality drinks, or combined substances.

• Aspect Results: Drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, dizziness, dependence

• Ailments: Mind injury, kidney failure, coronary heart assault, respiratory melancholy, and long-term habit

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15. Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate)

• Used for: Treating erectile dysfunction in males with medical situations corresponding to diabetes, hypertension, or age-related points

• Abuse: Ceaselessly utilized by younger, wholesome males to reinforce sexual efficiency and sometimes combined with alcohol or vitality drinks for informal intercourse or events.

• Aspect Results: Complications, dizziness, nasal congestion, blurry imaginative and prescient, nosebleeds, coronary heart palpitations

• Ailments: Coronary heart assault, stroke, sudden collapse or demise throughout intercourse, dangerously low blood stress, particularly when mixed with alcohol or different drugs

16. ORS – Oral Rehydration Salt (e.g., WHO-ORS, Dioralyte)

• Used for: Rehydration throughout diarrhoea, vomiting, or dehydration, particularly in kids and adults

• Abuse: Drunk each day as an “vitality drink” or for enjoyable, generally chilled or combined with sweeteners for style. Some individuals use it after exercises or when drained, even with out fluid loss.

• Aspect Results: Nausea, bloating, salty style, electrolyte overload

• Ailments: Hypertension, kidney stress or failure, fluid retention, particularly in people with coronary heart or kidney points

17. Artemether/Lumefantrine (e.g., Coartem, Lonart, Amatem)

• Used for: Treatment of confirmed uncomplicated malaria

• Abuse: Broadly used for any fever, headache, or physique ache with out correct malaria testing. Many Nigerians assume each fever is malaria and self-medicate with this antimalarial.

• Aspect Results: Bitter style within the mouth, dizziness, nausea, liver pressure

• Ailments: Liver injury, misdiagnosis of underlying sickness, drug-resistant malaria (as a result of incomplete doses or pointless use)

18. Felvin (Piroxicam)

• Used for: Ache reduction, irritation

• Abuse: Used for menstrual ache, normal physique ache

• Aspect Results: Abdomen bleeding, kidney load

• Ailments: Power kidney illness, peptic ulcers, bleeding tendencies.

19. Apetamin / Weight Acquire Syrup (Comprises Cyproheptadine)

• Used for: Stimulating urge for food in underweight people, prescribed in circumstances of consuming issues or extreme weight reduction

• Abuse: Taken by younger girls to achieve hips, thighs, and larger buttocks for physique enhancement. Usually self-prescribed and combined with heavy meals or different weight gain merchandise.

• Aspect Results: Fixed sleepiness, irregular and speedy weight achieve, dizziness, low blood stress

• Ailments: Liver enlargement, hormonal imbalances, menstrual irregularities, coronary heart pressure, and threat of fatty liver illness

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20. Postinor 2 (Levonorgestrel)

• Used for: Emergency contraception (inside 72 hours of unprotected intercourse)

• Abuse: Taken repeatedly after each episode of unprotected intercourse, typically used as a routine contraception technique reasonably than in emergencies.

• Aspect Results: Irregular menstrual cycles, breast tenderness, nausea, weight achieve, and fatigue.

The abuse of frequent medication in Nigeria is a ticking time bomb. Whereas these drugs are important when used correctly, misuse might be lethal. Self-medication may provide momentary reduction, however it typically results in long-term hurt.