The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a serious warning over the spread of fake Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) in Nigeria. The alert came after the Society for Family Health, the authorised distributor, confirmed that it had no involvement in importing the questionable batches.
Postinor-2 is a widely used brand of emergency contraceptive pills designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. However, NAFDAC revealed that counterfeit versions are now in circulation. Posing serious health risks to unsuspecting consumers.
According to the agency, the fake products carry clear labeling errors. On the counterfeit packs, the pin verification sticker uses a smaller font size and contains a spelling mistake. This reads “Veify” instead of “Verify.” In addition, the back of the fake packs wrongly spells “Distnibuted in Nigeria” instead of “Distributed in Nigeria.”
NAFDAC confirmed the authentic product as batch T32458H, manufactured in February 2023 and set to expire in February 2027, with registration number 04-6985. However, two falsified versions have been identified:
- Type 1: Batch T36184B, manufactured in August 2024, expiring in August 2028.
- Type 2: Batch 332, manufactured in March 2023, expiring in February 2027.
The agency stressed that counterfeit drugs may contain the wrong dosage, harmful substances, or contaminants. As a result, users face potential contraceptive failure, allergic reactions, organ damage, or even life-threatening complications.
To stay safe, NAFDAC advised consumers to purchase Postinor-2 only from licensed pharmacies and to verify PIN stickers carefully. Healthcare providers and the public are also urged to report suspected counterfeit products immediately.
Ongoing investigations aim to trace the source of the falsified medicines while NAFDAC teams across the country continue surveillance and product mop-up operations.
