A recent investigation discovered that a substantial majority of paracetamol tablets available in Nigeria may be inadequately dosed, failing to meet the established standards outlined by the British Pharmacopoeia and the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the 2023 study titled ‘Comparative Analysis of Five Different Brands of Paracetamol Sold in Nigeria with British Pharmacopoeia Standards,’ samples from five brands, each purportedly containing 500mg, were subjected to testing and analysis using the spectrophotometric method. The measured concentrations varied from 185mg to 358mg, falling significantly below the recommended 500mg limit.
Researchers expressed apprehension about potential treatment failures arising from the underdosing of paracetamol tablets, underscoring that this issue has not received adequate attention, possibly due to a perception of its safety.
Given the contemporary emphasis on cost-effective therapy, the researchers highlighted that prescribing and underdosing practices leading to treatment failure could yield severe consequences, including compromised patient outcomes, polypharmacy concerns, and increased expenses for the healthcare system.
While paracetamol is widely utilized in Nigeria for its analgesic properties, the study’s findings raise doubts about the drug’s efficacy due to insufficient active ingredients in the tested tablets.