List Of Common Drugs Use In Nigeria

As a pharmacist who has worked in both hospital and community pharmacy, I have observed that there are some common drugs. These drugs are more prescribed in the hospital and sought after in community pharmacy.

Drug

There is a correlation between what is prescribed in the hospital and what the patient wants in community pharmacy. Patients always ask for drugs prescribed in the hospital.

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This shows that what is obtainable in the hospital is also in the community pharmacy. If you’re really a Nigerian, you will know that you can’t possibly go to the hospital for every discomfort you have. Apart from our aversion to consultation fees, some ailments are recurrent and after a while, you preempt what the doctor would order – so you go to the neighborhood community pharmacy.

List Of Common Drugs In Nigeria

These drugs are prescribed by a medical doctor and sought after by patients. There is no official record. This list is compiled from drug use pattern in a village in Jos state. However, this should represent Nigeria drug usage.

1. Analgesics 23.6%: they include ibuprofen, paracetamol, diclofenac, indomethacin, etc.

2. Antimalarials 17.9%: they include coartem, amatem, lonart, lokmal, etc.

3. Antiplatelets 3.8%: they include aspirin, clopidogrel, etc.

4. Antibiotics 14.2%: they include ampiclox, amoxicillin, augmentin, metronidazole, etc.

5. Antipsychotics 1.9%: they include risperidone, artane, etc.

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6. Antihypertensives 9.4%: these include amlodipine, lisinopril, methyldopa, etc.

7. Antidiabetics 0.9%: these include metformin, glimepiride, etc.

8. Antispasmodics 1.9%: example is hyoscine methylbromide, etc.

9. Antacids 1.9%: consists of mist mag sulfate, polygel, polyfort. Supporting drugs include antihistamines (cimetidine) and proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole), etc.

10. Antihistamines 4.7%: these include chlorpheniramine, etc.

11. Antidiarrhoeal 5.7%: include loperamide, diastop, etc.