Beware of fake zentel tablets – FDA

The Food & Drugs Authority (FDA) is warning the public about a fake brand of the Zentel dewormer on the market.

The post-market surveillance team of the authority impounded the fake drugs in three pharmacy shops in Accra after running thorough analysis on samples.

Zentel is an over-the-counter drug which is meant for the treatment of single or mixed intestinal parasites.

According to the FDA, the fake medicines lack the active ingredients required for deworming the human body.

The Public Relations Officer of the FDA, James Lartey in an interview with Citi News revealed that the imitations had raw starches which are useless to the human system.

The authority also revealed the fake batch number as 390160 and manufacturing date as 03/11 (March 2011) and its expired date as 03/16 (March 2016).

Mr. Lartey also mentioned Medreich Sterilab Limited, Avalahalli, Bangalore-560062 of India as the manufacturer of the fake dewormer.

“The fake drug has Medreich as its manufacturer, we are therefore advising consumers to refrain from purchasing it.”

He also stated that the Fake Zentel has the inscription “SmithKline Beecham Laboratories Pharmaceutiques 6, Esplanade Charles de Gaulie, 62731 NANTERRE, Cedex, France.

However ‘SmithKline’ is also inscribed on the original product. Thus individuals who visit pharmacies should ensure that they clearly see “SmithKline Beecham Laboratories” as the only inscription on any Zentel dewormer they purchase.

The FDA is advising consumers to look out for the correct inscriptions before purchasing the drug.

By: Afua Kesewa Akoto/citifmonline.com/Ghana