Counterfeit Otrivin floods market as NAFDAC orders urgent mop-up nationwide

…Says all products in circulation are fake
By Chioma Obinna

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has raised a red flag over the circulation of counterfeit Otrivin Nasal Drops in Nigeria, directing an immediate nationwide mop-up of the products amid fears of serious health risks to unsuspecting users.

In a public alert No. 019/2026 released on its website, the agency disclosed that both children’s Otrivin Nasal Drops (0.05%) and adult variants are being circulated without registration, describing them as unsafe and potentially harmful.

“The Marketing Authorization Holder has confirmed that they are not currently importing any Otrivin products into Nigeria. Consequently, all products in circulation are counterfeits,” NAFDAC said.

The alarm was triggered by a consumer complaint received by the agency’s Post Marketing Surveillance Directorate, which uncovered the presence of unregistered nasal drops in the market.

Otrivin nasal drops are commonly used to relieve nasal congestion, treat allergies, and reduce inflammation.

However, NAFDAC warned that counterfeit versions may contain substandard or dangerous ingredients.
“Unregistered products pose significant risks to public health. They may lead to treatment failure, adverse reactions, or worsening of medical conditions,” the agency cautioned.

According to NAFDAC, authentic Otrivin products carry registration numbers — 04-5350 for children and 04-0026 for adults, while the counterfeit versions bear suspicious batch numbers such as 7U8T and SU8X, with recent manufacturing and expiry dates.

The agency has since mobilised all zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance and remove the products from circulation.

NAFDAC urged distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers to exercise heightened vigilance.

“All medical products must be sourced from authorized and licensed suppliers. The authenticity and physical condition of products should always be verified before use,” it stressed.

The agency advised consumers and healthcare providers to report suspicious products to the nearest NAFDAC office or through official hotlines and reporting platforms.

The development comes amid a string of recent safety alerts by the agency, including warnings on unregistered and counterfeit medicines such as ViroActive+ purported to cure HIV, falsified Cerelac products, and counterfeit cancer drugs like Herceptin and Mabthera.

NAFDAC also confirmed that the alert will be escalated to the World Health Organisation’s global monitoring system to curb international circulation of the fake products.

The agency advised Nigerians to steer clear of Otrivin nasal drops in the market until further notice.

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