Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: Pharmacists warn Nigerians against self-medication

The Chairman, Community Pharmacists Association of Nigeria, Dr. Albert Alkali, has warned Nigerians against engaging in self-medication.

Alkali said this while briefing journalists on the association’s findings on the recent case of Steven-Johnson Syndrome in the country.

A 14-year-old girl, Amina Ibrahim, died after she suffered an adverse reaction from a drug she bought from a chemist operator in Kano State.

According to Alkali, investigations revealed that Amina suffered SJS due to the sulphur-based chemicals in the drugs erroneously given to her treat malaria and typhoid.

Alkali said, “The patient took two tablets of clotrimazole, an antibiotic given to her by a quack, who operates a chemist. When she noticed signs of itching, she went back to the chemist, who gave her a sulphur-based anti-malarial.

“She began having uncontrollable burns and the beautiful lady turned black. We want Nigerians to know that any one that patronises illegal pharmacies is at risk of such unusual attack.

“Many people react to some components of drugs and chemist operators do not know this. They only give you what they like. Amina would have been alive if she had gone to a pharmacist who would have asked her basic questions before dispensing drugs in the first place. She would not have received a sulphur-based anti malaria after she had complained of itching when she took clotrimazole. We need to know where to source our drugs.”

He, however, called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control as well as the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria to check the activities of patent medicine operators.

The ACPN boss noted that patent medicines stores were not to be in cities but in rural areas with no practicing pharmacists.

Alkali said, “Patent medicine operators are not meant to be selling antibiotics like clotrimadazole, yet they do so. They sell all sorts of prescription drugs that they do not even know anything about.

“They are only allowed to be in rural areas not cities where there are pharmacies. We call on NAFDAC, PCN and task forces to investigate their activities. Drugs have side effects when used appropriately not to talk of when used abnormally.”

The ACPN Secretary, Mr. Lawrence Ekhator, urged Nigerians to check for the association’s emblem before patronising any pharmacy.

Ekhator said, “It’s not enough for you to walk into a registered pharmacy. You should check for the practicing licence and the photograph of the super-intending pharmacist should be clearly on display. Once these things are not there, please go out and do not buy.

“Nigerians must take their health seriously. Drugs are not tomatoes or clothes that have no effect on your health. They are poisons.”

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By Unknown on Tuesday 21 June 2016