NAFDAC bans codeine in Nigeria: Good or Bad??

NAFDAC bans codeine in Nigeria: Good or Bad?? 

NAFDAC (National Agency for food and drugs Administration and Control) just recently banned the use/importation of codeine by pharmaceutical companies in the production of cough syrups in Nigeria. The question is; is this a positive approach or is it negative?? 

I'm not here to argue, but to give you facts and then, you decide for yourself.

What is codeine??? 

Codeine is an opiate used to treat pain, as a cough medicine, and for diarrhea. It is typically used to treat mild to moderate degrees of pain. Codeine is being derived from morphine (from Morpheus, God of sleep),  it is broken down to morphine by the liver in the human body. 

Codeine is used in cough syrups because of its potent ability to suppress the cough reflex centre in the brain. 

Why is Codeine being abused?? 

It is abused majorly because of its side effects, which are:

•Addiction

•Dizziness 

•Lightheadedness

•Euphoria 

•Urinary retention 

•Nausea/vomiting

•Constipation, etc

Long term intake of this drug can lead to serious detrimental situations, which are referred to as the Adverse effects and they include:

•Respiratory Depression 

•Orthostatic Hypotension (sudden low blood pressure) 

•Anaphylatic shock 

•Seizures 

•Acute Pancreatitis (sudden inflammation of the pancreas) 

•Memory loss

•Decreased Libido

It is important to note that codeine is meant to be a PRESCRIPTION ONLY DRUG (POD), However, these laws are not strictly adhered to because of the porosity in the country. 

In my own view, the risks outweighs it's benefits, considering the rate of abuse, replacing codeine use for dextrometophan, is a good move by the NAFDAC. Or what do you think?? 🤷🤔

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