Counterfeit Augmentin 625mg Tablets Circulating in Nigeria — Batch AC3N (NAFDAC Public Alert No. 024/2026)

NAFDAC has issued an urgent public health alert warning Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Augmentin 625mg tablets in Nigeria. The fake antibiotic has been identified with Batch Number AC3N and is packaged in the standard 2 x 7 tablets blister pack format.

This is NAFDAC Public Alert No. 024/2026, released on Friday, 15 May 2026. If you have recently purchased Augmentin 625mg, check your pack immediately.

What is Augmentin 625mg

Augmentin 625mg is a widely used antibiotic that combines amoxicillin (500mg) and clavulanic acid (125mg). It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and is prescribed for a wide range of bacterial infections, including respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, dental infections, and ear infections.

Because it is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in Nigerian hospitals and clinics, it is also a prime target for counterfeiters.

How This Alert Was Triggered

NAFDAC received information from the marketing authorisation holder for GlaxoSmithKline products in Nigeria following a series of complaints about suspicious Augmentin 625mg tablets appearing in the Nigerian market.

GSK investigated the product using documentary evidence, photographs, and videos circulated on social media and confirmed that the product with batch number AC3N currently in circulation is counterfeit.

The Critical Detail: What Makes an Augmentin Fake

This is where the investigation becomes very specific and where you need to pay close attention.

1. The Real Batch AC3N

The genuine Augmentin Batch Number AC3N was manufactured at GSK's facility in Worthing, United Kingdom, on 23 August 2023. It was packed between 19 and 20 September 2023.

2. The Fake Version of the Same Batch

The counterfeit product circulating in Nigeria claims to have been manufactured in September 2025 with an expiry date of September 2028.

GSK has confirmed that no batch bearing the number AC3N was produced in September 2025. This makes the dates on the suspicious product impossible and entirely inconsistent with official production records.

In other words, the counterfeiters copied a real batch number from genuine Augmentin but attached false manufacturing and expiry dates to make the product appear newer and valid.

3. Packaging Irregularities

In addition to the false dates, investigations revealed clear packaging defects in the counterfeit product, including textual errors on the packaging and poor-quality fin sealing on the blister packs. These are signs of a product manufactured outside of a regulated facility.

Why This Is Dangerous

• Treatment Failure

Augmentin is prescribed for serious bacterial infections. If the product contains little or no active ingredient, the infection goes untreated. The patient may appear to improve briefly, but the bacteria survive, and the infection returns, often more severely.

• Antibiotic Resistance

Exposure to subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics, meaning doses too low to kill the bacteria, is one of the leading causes of antibiotic resistance. The bacteria learn to survive the drug, making future infections much harder to treat not just for you but for the people around you.

• Harmful Substances

NAFDAC has warned that counterfeit Augmentin may contain wrong quantities of active ingredients, no active ingredients at all, or dangerous substances that can cause adverse reactions and serious health complications.

How to Check Your Augmentin Right Now

Step One: Check the Batch Number

Look at the packaging of your Augmentin 625mg tablets. Find the batch number printed on the box and on the blister pack. If it reads AC3N, this is the batch under alert.

Step Two: Check the Dates

If your pack shows Batch AC3N with a manufacturing date of September 2025 and an expiry date of September 2028, the product is confirmed counterfeit. Do not take it.

The genuine Batch AC3N was manufactured in August 2023 and packed in September 2023. Any pack with AC3N showing 2025 manufacture dates is fake.

Step Three: Inspect the Packaging

Look for spelling errors on the text, poor print quality, or blister packs that appear to be poorly sealed. These are physical signs of a counterfeit product.

What You Must Do

If You Have This Product

Stop taking it immediately and consult a licensed pharmacist or doctor for a verified replacement.

Keep the Evidence

Do not discard the packaging. Keep it as evidence and report it to NAFDAC.

Report the Seller

Call NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 (toll free) or email sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng. You can also use the Report Fake feature on VerifyProduct.ng to flag the product and the outlet where it was purchased.

Contact Healthcare Professionals

NAFDAC has specifically directed hospitals, clinics, and pharmacy stores to review their current stocks and remove any Augmentin 625mg with Batch Number AC3N from their shelves immediately.

How to Buy Augmentin Safely Going Forward

Always purchase Augmentin and all prescription antibiotics from a licensed pharmacy with a valid Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) registration displayed. Ask the pharmacist to verify the product before dispensing it to you.

Avoid purchasing antibiotics from open drug markets, social media vendors, roadside sellers, or unverified online platforms.

NAFDAC has also directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and mop up counterfeit Augmentin from circulation across all states.