Written by Pharmacist Mbom Umoren

Recently, concerned customers have asked us why some drugs appear to have been banned and they are still available for sale. We at Lily Pharmacy would like to reassure you that it is the importation of certain drugs that have been banned and NOT their sale or use. Some of the banned drugs affected include paracetamol, cotrimoxazole, metronidazole, aspirin, magnesium trisilicate, ampicillin-cloxacillin, multivitamin tablets, capsules and syrups. We understand that this is to encourage and boost production from our local pharmaceutical industries, while reducing the demand for scarce foreign exchange.

We assure you that there is nothing wrong with these drugs so long as we continue to use them as advised by the manufacturers and health professionals. Research is continually being carried out on drugs and where their use is no longer safe, the public is usually informed.