NAFDAC Issues Warning Over Fake Postinor-2 Emergency Contraceptive in Circulation
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm over the circulation of counterfeit batches of Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) in Nigeria.
The agency disclosed this in a public alert on Monday, following a report from the Society for Family Health, the official marketing authorisation holder, which confirmed that it did not import the suspicious products.
Postinor-2 is a widely used emergency contraceptive pill containing levonorgestrel as its active ingredient. However, NAFDAC warned that recent falsified versions pose serious risks to women’s reproductive health and public safety.
According to the agency, there are clear labelling discrepancies between the genuine and counterfeit products. For instance, on the fake pack, the PIN verification sticker uses smaller fonts and wrongly spells “Verify” as “Veify.” Similarly, the back of the counterfeit pack incorrectly reads “Distnibuted in Nigeria” instead of “Distributed in Nigeria.”
The original Postinor-2 product is identified as batch T32458H, manufactured in February 2023, with an expiry date of February 2027, and registration number 04-6985.
NAFDAC, however, confirmed two falsified versions in circulation:
- Counterfeit Type 1: Batch T36184B, manufactured in August 2024, expiry August 2028.
- Counterfeit Type 2: Batch 332, manufactured in March 2023, expiry February 2027.
Both fake products carried the registration number 04-6985, making them harder to differentiate without close inspection.
The agency warned that the fake drugs may contain harmful or substandard ingredients, carry the wrong dosage of levonorgestrel, or be produced under unsafe conditions. Potential risks include failure of contraception, toxic side effects, organ damage, allergic reactions, long-term reproductive complications, or even death.
“Counterfeit medicines are unregulated, untested, and illegal, making their safety and effectiveness impossible to guarantee. Patients should only obtain Postinor-2 from verified pharmacies or licensed healthcare providers,” the agency stressed.
NAFDAC further directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to begin surveillance and mop-up operations of the falsified products nationwide while investigations into their source continue.
Consumers and healthcare providers have been urged to carefully check PIN stickers, report suspected counterfeit medicines, and always buy drugs from trusted and reputable outlets.
