THE NIGERIAN PHARMACIST BLOG

 Drug abuse is one of the biggest health and social problems of our time. In Nigeria and many other countries, young people and even adults are getting caught up in the use of substances that affect the brain, emotions, and behavior. But what exactly are these drugs, how do they make people dependent, and what can be done to break free? Let’s break it down. Common Drugs of Abuse and How They Work. 1. Opioids (e.g., codeine, tramadol, heroin). These drugs are painkillers but when taken in high doses, they create a feeling of euphoria or “high.” They work by binding to special receptors in the brain that control pain and pleasure. Why people get hooked: The brain starts depending on the drug for happiness. Without it, the person feels sick (withdrawal). Impact: In Nigeria, codeine cough syrup and tramadol abuse have led to many youths becoming unproductive, with some turning to crime to fund their habit. 2. Cannabis (marijuana) Marijuana contains THC, which alters mood, perception, a...

 Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age, characterized by insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and ovulatory dysfunction. Lifestyle modifications, pharmacological interventions, and nutritional supplements play a role in its management. Among these, myo-inositol (MI), a naturally occurring carbohydrate, has gained significant attention for its potential benefits in PCOS management. Understanding Myo-Inositol and Its Role in PCOS Myo-inositol is a stereoisomer of inositol, a component of the B-vitamin complex, and is involved in cell signaling, insulin sensitivity, and ovarian function. It acts as a second messenger in insulin signaling pathways, enhancing glucose uptake and reducing insulin resistance—key factors in PCOS pathology (Pastore et al., 2020).                                               Wom...

 Zinc is a crucial trace mineral involved in numerous biological functions, including immune support, wound healing, and cell growth. However, its role in male fertility is particularly significant. Research has consistently shown that adequate zinc levels are essential for sperm production, motility, and overall reproductive health. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of zinc in male fertility, supported by scientific evidence. 1. Zinc and Sperm Quality Sperm quality, including count, motility, and morphology, is a key factor in male fertility. Studies have demonstrated that men with higher zinc concentrations in their seminal fluid tend to have better sperm parameters. A 2016 study published in Scientific Reports found that zinc supplementation improved sperm motility and reduced DNA fragmentation, both of which are critical for successful conception (Ali et al., 2016). Another study in Biological Trace Element Research reported a positive correlation between zin...

 Ashwagandha, scientifically known as Withania somnifera, is a popular adaptogenic herb used in Ayurvedic medicine for its numerous health benefits. "Ashwagandha goli" refers to tablets or pills made from the root or extract of the Ashwagandha plant. Below are some key health benefits of Ashwagandha goli: 1. Stress and Anxiety Reduction Ashwagandha is well-known for its adaptogenic properties, which help the body manage stress. Regular consumption of Ashwagandha goli may reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone), promote relaxation, and alleviate anxiety. 2. Improved Sleep Quality Ashwagandha has sedative properties that may help in treating insomnia and improving overall sleep quality. It helps calm the mind and supports better rest. 3. Enhanced Cognitive Function Studies have shown that Ashwagandha can improve memory, focus, and cognitive function. Its neuroprotective properties make it beneficial for individuals experiencing brain fog or cognitive decline. 4. Boosted Imm...

Functions of Magnesium Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in numerous biochemical processes in the body. Its primary functions include: Energy Production Magnesium is a key cofactor in the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the main energy currency in cells. Muscle Function and Relaxation Magnesium regulates muscle contractions by acting as a counterbalance to calcium, which stimulates muscle contraction. It helps muscles relax and prevents cramps. Nervous System Regulation Magnesium helps maintain proper nerve function by regulating neurotransmitter release and acting as a natural calcium blocker to prevent overstimulation of nerve cells. Bone Health Magnesium contributes to bone formation by working alongside calcium and vitamin D to maintain bone density and strength. Enzyme Activation It acts as a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including processes related to DNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and glucose metabolism. Blood Pressure Re...

You have often heard your doctor or pharmacist advising you not to take certain antimalarials with fruits or Vitamin C tablets and you wonder why. Malaria is a serious and potentially fatal disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were an estimated 229 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2019, with an estimated 409,000 deaths. Artemether is an antimalarial drug commonly used to treat malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly species of the parasite. However, it is advised that artemether-based antimalarials should not be taken with vitamin C or fruits, such as grapefruit, orange, or pomelo. In this blog post, we will discuss the reasons behind this advice and the potential risks of combining artemether with vitamin C or fruits. Artemether is a member of the artemisinin family of drugs, which are extracted from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemis...

Paracetamol is the most commonly abused over the counter analgesic in Nigeria. Often times people take more than the prescribed dose (overdose) and claim that the normal dose doesn't give the therapeutic effect. Cases have also been reported of people using Paracetamol as meat tenderizer in Nigeria, the long term effect of paracetamol abuse may result in liver problem. In this blog post we will try to show why you shouldn't take paracetamol more than the prescribed dose and the dosage regimen. Acetaminophen (also known as Paracetamol) is a commonly used over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer. It is widely available and considered safe when taken at recommended doses. However, the abuse of this medication can have serious consequences. Pharmacology of Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen is a weak inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which are responsible for the production of prostaglandins, molecules that play a role in pain and inflammation. Acetaminophen is belie...

Pregnancy is a special time when a woman's body goes through many changes to support the growth and development of a new life. It is essential to take good care of oneself during this time to ensure the health and wellbeing of the growing baby. One of the most important things that a pregnant woman can do for her baby is to avoid alcohol during pregnancy. Here are some of the reasons why avoiding alcohol during pregnancy is so important: Increased Risk of Miscarriage Drinking alcohol during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. This risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Women who drink heavily during the first trimester of pregnancy are more likely to miscarry than women who do not drink. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a serious condition that can occur in babies who are exposed to alcohol in the womb. It can cause a range of physical, behavioral, and cognitive problems, including facial abnormalities, growt...

 You have often heard health care givers caution you not to take alcohol while on drugs. Drug interactions occur when two or more drugs are taken together and their effects on the body are altered. Alcohol is a commonly used substance that can interact with a wide range of medications, leading to unpredictable and potentially dangerous effects. Mixing alcohol with certain drugs can increase the risk of side effects, such as dizziness, drowsiness, impaired coordination, respiratory depression, and even death. Here are some examples of drugs that can interact with alcohol: Antidepressants Antidepressants are commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Some antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), can interact with alcohol and cause a range of side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, impaired coordination, and even respiratory depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are a new...

  Nutrients for Body Functions Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients needed by the body to function properly. These nutrients are obtained from the food we eat and are necessary for growth, development, and maintenance of good health. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of each vitamin and mineral, their sources, and deficiency symptoms. Vitamins Vitamins are organic compounds that are needed in small quantities to maintain good health. They are classified into two groups, water-soluble and fat-soluble. Water-Soluble Vitamins Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water and are not stored in the body. They must be replenished regularly through diet or supplements. Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Importance: Vitamin B1 is essential for the conversion of carbohydrates into energy. It is also necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Sources: Whole grains, beans, nuts, pork, and fortified cereals. Deficiency symptoms: Fatigue, muscle weakness, nerve damage, an...

 METHAMPHETAMINE (Mkpụrụ mmiri), What our youths should know. I believe the name Mkpụrụ mmiri comes from the fact that the drug, crystal methamphetamine looks like pieces of ice or glass fragments. It was discovered in 1893 and initially was meant for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (because it increases alertness) and obesity (because it reduces appetite), it is rarely prescribed for these uses anymore because of its high addiction rate and subsequent toxicity. Some of the ways people take the drug are by smoking, swallowing or injecting the drug that has been dissolved in water or alcohol. Because the initial high experienced when a user takes the drug does not last long, users often take repeated doses to continue experiencing the ‘highness” and this is where the addiction comes in, the user just wants to experience the euphoria again and again. Methamphetamine also known in the street as Meth, ice or Mkpụrụ mmiri is a potent brain stimulant, this means...

  So today in the Pharmacy, a lady came in with a written note to buy the following antibiotics. Perfloxacin 2 "Cipro infusion" 6 "Ciproxin tablets" 2 Rocephin 6. On seeing the note I wasn't comfortable, I asked her who the drugs were meant for, she said it's for herself, I then asked her who prescribed it and she said a nurse, I asked her to call the nurse that I want to speak with her to know why she wants to give all these antibiotics to one person, maybe all the bacteria in the world are having a conference in the lady's body. Not that the the one she wrote "Ciproxin" is ciprofloxacin and Cipro infusion is also ciprofloxacin but meant for intravenous use (these nurses usually call it Ciproxin or Cipro), Ciprofloxacin and Perfloxacin are the same class of drugs with similar mechanism of action, (same Pharmacology) just some differences in their chemical structures, so basically this "nurse" wants to give one drug in two different f...

 1. Antibiotics dry up blood when you take them and so it must be taken with blood supplements. This is very wrong, antibiotics do not dry blood, ask your doctor or pharmacist whatever you need to know when taking antibiotics. 2. The white vitamin C works better than the coloured one. The difference between the coloured and white vitamin C are the colourants and sweeteners used to manufacture the latter, ordinarily vitamin C does not have a sweet taste but sweeteners and colourants  are incorporated into the active drug during compounding/manufacture to improve the taste and aesthetics, that's all. The sour or sweet taste is not associated with efficacy. 3. Anti helminthics (worm expellers) should be taken after taking sugar or sugary food. Some people say this is done to entice the worm to come out and eat the sugary food so that the drugs can act on it. This is one of the most hilarious stuff I've ever heard as a pharmacist, however it is not true, just take your worm expell...

 This article is based on my daily  observations of drug use in Nigeria as a community Pharmacist. I will not be talking about substance abuse which involves the use of psychoactive substances but rather drug misuse. Nigeria has a chequered history of drug delivery and usage, almost all drug types could be bought over the counter in Nigeria,  before I go further drugs in the Pharmacy are classified into Over The Counter (OTC) drugs and Prescription Only Medications (POM). OTC drugs are medications that could be bought without a doctor's prescription while POM are medications that you can only buy with a valid prescription by a medical, dental or veterinary practitioners. In Nigeria, virtually all drugs are sold as OTC, you can simply walk into any pharmacy or drug store and purchase the most ethical drug without any prescription and this has resulted in a lot of drug misuse in the society today with a lot of implications. Another factor is that once an average Nigerian ta...

  So today I took the first jab of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine and here's my experience. I registered today and I still took the vaccine today, the registration was so simple, easy and seamless, you can register here  https://nphcda.vaccination.gov.ng/ After registration, you will receive a message indicating the vaccination time, date and centre. Luckily for me, the vaccination centre is very close to where I work, on getting there, there was no crowd, as a matter of fact I was the only one coming to take the vaccine as at that time, so I walked up to a nurse and made enquiries, she directed me to the people in charge, they asked wether I've registered I answered in affirmative, they checked my name in their system and confirmed my registration, after the manual registration, I was shown the health worker in charge of the vaccination, the woman was just nice and straight to the point, I received the vaccine and was asked to sit for 10-15 minutes so that they can observe ...

Patient: I have this severe body pain and headache that won't let me do anything, please give me a good pain killer. Me: (proceeds to get the "best" analgesic), you have to take this one tablet every 12 hours for 3 days. Patient: how much is it? Me: ₦1,000 Patient: Ah, why is it too expensive naa, just ordinary pain killer, please give me paracetamol. Me: (speaking in my mind) why you no just walk in tell me say paracetamol you wan buy. 2nd scenario: Patient: Pharm please I want the best antimalarial. Me: This one is ₦1800 Patient: That's too expensive, give me the one of a lesser price. Me (proceeds to bring another one) This one is ₦1,600. Patient: You don't have the one that the price is lesser than these two. Me: (brings the cheapest) this one is "dozismartem", it's ₦250. Patient: Are you sure this one will work, please give me that first one you said it's ₦1,800. Me: (speaking to myself) What is the colour of your problem this morning?. I al...