These fake diabetes drugs are in circulation; they could worsen your condition or put your life at risk — Here’s how to spot them before buying

• NAFDAC warns about fake Forxiga diabetes drugs in circulation.

• Counterfeit medicines can worsen diabetes and cause serious harm.

• Check the packaging and NAFDAC registration before buying.

If you take medication for diabetes, you may want to take a closer look at the pack before buying your next dose.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians about suspected counterfeit versions of Forxiga (dapagliflozin) in Nigeria.

The agency said AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of the genuine Forxiga, detected the products in the eastern part of the country during market surveillance.

The warning is important because a counterfeit medicine may look like the real thing but contain the wrong ingredient, the wrong strength, harmful contaminants or no active ingredient at all. 

NAFDAC said taking such medicines can result in treatment failure, worsening of an underlying condition and other serious health risks. 

NAFDAC identified two suspected counterfeit products that imitate Forxiga, a dapagliflozin medicine manufactured by AstraZeneca.

The agency listed them as:

• Forzigar — batch number ATE-262, manufactured in March 2025 and expiring in February 2028. The pack lists Alliance Biotech as the manufacturer.

• Foziga — batch number GIB405-, manufactured in June 2024 and expiring in May 2027. The pack lists Medico Remedies Ltd as the manufacturer.

The genuine product is Forxiga, containing dapagliflozin and manufactured by AstraZeneca. 

NAFDAC said investigations into the source and distribution of the suspected counterfeit products are ongoing, while surveillance and mop-up operations have been ordered. 

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The safest approach is not to rely on appearance alone.

Look closely at the brand name on the pack. In this case, the suspected counterfeits use names resembling Forxiga, including Forzigar and Foziga.

Don't assume a medicine is genuine simply because its packaging looks familiar.

Look for unusual fonts, spelling mistakes, poor printing, damaged packaging or inconsistencies between different parts of the pack.

WHO recommends checking the packaging, manufacturing and expiry dates and making sure the information on the outer packaging matches the inner packaging. 

Don't rely solely on a NAFDAC number printed on a pack. Counterfeiters can put fake regulatory numbers on products.

You can check whether a medicine is registered with NAFDAC through the agency’s Greenbook database by searching its name, active ingredient or NAFDAC registration number. Click here: https://greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng/

NAFDAC specifically advised Nigerians and healthcare professionals to buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised distributors.

Buying from an unknown online seller, roadside vendor or other unauthorised source increases the risk of encountering falsified medicines. 

WHO also identifies unauthorised and informal sources as important routes through which counterfeit medicines reach consumers. 

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For someone managing diabetes, getting the right medicine and dose matters because the goal is to keep blood sugar under control and reduce the risk of complications.

A counterfeit drug that contains little or no of the stated active ingredient may simply fail to do that. 

Your blood sugar could remain poorly controlled while you believe you are taking your prescribed medication.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says substandard and falsified medicines can cause treatment failure, worsen diseases, cause adverse reactions and, in some cases, lead to serious illness or death. 

The risk can be even harder to spot because counterfeit medicines can sometimes look almost identical to genuine products.

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Don't panic, but don't ignore your concerns either.

If you suspect that your medicine is counterfeit, speak to a pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your diabetes treatment. 

If you experience an unusual reaction or feel that the medicine is not working as expected, seek medical attention promptly.

Consumers are advised to purchase solely from licensed pharmacies, inspect packaging for subtle name changes or brand imitations, and report suspicious batches to NAFDAC via sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng or 0800-162-3322.

The agency is investigating the source and distribution of the suspected counterfeit Forxiga products, so consumers should remain particularly careful when purchasing diabetes medication.