Kidney failures in Nigeria linked to banned malaria drugs in circulation.

The fear that the major cause of kidney failures may be connected to the continued use of some malaria drugs banned in Europe but still used in Nigeria has continued to grow. Malaria is one of the commonest ailment Nigerians suffer and the ailment has continued to claim many lives across Africa. Reports of kidney failures had become alarmingly common, affecting both the young and the old. Families were torn apart by the sudden and unexplained illness that seemed to target their loved ones without warning. Nigerians now think that the ailment is a ripple effect of the continued use of some banned malaria drugs. Medical practitioners and nephrologists in particular across the country have seen it all. They always watch as patients are wheeled into their hospitals  as their kidneys have continued to fail for no apparent reasons. The trend is clear: more and more Nigerians are suffering from kidney disease, and the numbers are rising at an alarming rate. In Umuaka alone, not less than 5 persons have died of the ailment in the recent time.

Rumors began to circulate across the social media outlets that the cause of the kidney failures is related to the malaria drugs being sold in Nigeria. Many had noticed that the drugs are still widely available, in the country despite being banned in Europe. The connection seemed obvious.

One patient, who did not want her name disclosed told Umuaka Times last week that she had been taking malaria drugs for years. She had purchased them over the counter at a local pharmacy in her town, never thinking twice about their safety. But after a routine check-up, her doctor delivered the devastating news to her that her kidneys were failing.

“I had no idea,” she disclosed, tears streaming down her face. “I just wanted to protect my family from malaria. I didn’t know the drugs could harm us.”

Several doctors in Nigeria have expressed shock after seeing the list of ingredients in many malaria drugs sold in the country. Many of them allegedly contain substances that had been banned in Europe due to their toxic effects on the kidneys.

The Nigerian government was forced to take notice of the crisis. They launched an investigation into the sale of banned malaria drugs and began to crack down on pharmacies and markets that were selling them. But for many Nigerians, the damage had already been done. The kidney failure cases continued to rise, and families were left to mourn the loss of their loved ones.

The banned drugs include:

1. Alaxin 60mg tablet (dihydroartémisinine) B / 8
2. Alaxin oral suspension (dihydroartémisinine) FL / 80ml
3. Amodiaquine 200mg compressed B / 1000
4. Amodiaquine 200mg compressed B / 1000
5. Arinate 100mg tablet (artésunate) B / 6
6. Arinate 50 mg tablet (artésunate) B / 6
7. Arsumax 50 mg tablet (artésunate) B / 12
8. Artemax 60 mg tablet (dihydroartémisinine) B / 8
9. Artémédine 40 mg capsule (artemether) B / 12
10. Artémédine 50 mg tablet (artemether) B / 12
11. Artenam 50 mg tablet (artemether) B / 14
12. Artenam 60 mg tablet (artemether) B / 8
13. Artésiane 300 mg child powder oral suspension (artemether) FL / 38g
14. Artésunate 100mg compressed B / 120
15. Artésunate 50 mg tablet B / 120
16. Artexin 60 mg tablet (dihydroartémisinine) B / 8
17. Camoquin 200mg tablet (amodiaquine) B / 9
18. Camoquin 200mg tablet (amodiaquine) B / 25 blisters
19. Camoquin 200mg tablet (amodiaquine) B / 55 blisters
20. Camoquin 200mg tablet (amodiquine) B / 24
21. Camoquin 600 mg tablet (amodiaquine) B / 3
22. Camoquin oral suspension 50mg / 5ml (amodiaquine) FL / 60ml
23. Cotecxin oral suspension (dihydroartémisinine) FL / 80ml
24. Cotecxin 60 mg tablet (dihydroartémisinine) B / 8
25. Daraprim tablet (pyriméthamine) B / 30
26. Falcinil 50mg tablet (artésunate) B / 12
27. Flavoquine oral suspension 50mg / 5ml (amodiaquine) FL / 90ml
28. Flavoquine 200mg tablet (amodiaquine) B / 16
29. Flavoquine 200mg tablet (amodiaquine) B / 240
30. Gunate strong tablet (artésunate) B / 6 gvs labs
31. Tvitter powder oral suspension (artemether) FL / 100ml
32. Halfan 250mg tablet (halofantrine) B / 6
33. Halfan 250mg tablet (halofantrine) B / 120
34. Halfan oral suspension 5mg / 5ml (halofantrine) FL / 45ml
35. Malartin 200mg tablet (artésunate) B / 6
36. Malartin 50 mg tablet (artésunate) B / 12
37. mmh-malarex 450 mg capsule (peschiarafuchsiaefolia) B / 20
38. Paludrine 100mg tablet (proguanil) B / 56
39. Plasmotrim 200mg tablet (artésunate) B / 25 blisters / 6
40. Plasmotrim 200mg tablet (artésunate) B / 6
41. Plasmotrim 50 mg lactab (artésunate) B / 12
42. Plasmotrim 50 mg lactab (artésunate) B / 25 blisters / 6

Umuaka Times urges the Nigerian government to probe more into this claim and come out with a whitepaper as soon as possible.