15 Commonest drugs Nigerians misuse and their dangers

'When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable' —Myles Munroe  

Everything has a purpose but not all purpose is known and when purpose is not known the abuse and misuse is inevitable.  Today I will be taking you through the 15 most popular and commonly misuse drugs in Nigeria.

 1.  DICLOFENAC

A lot of people pop these pills for general body pains, menstrual pains and bone pains (the so called "RHEUMATISM")

When misused, it can cause:

1. Ulcers

2. Internal bleeding

3. Heart attack

4. Stroke in the Brain

5. Liver damage

6. Kidney damage

2.  POSTINOR

This is now like Tomtom in women's purses and bags. It is a common emergency oral contraceptive used by sexually active women to prevent pregnancy.

When misused, it can cause:

1. Abnormal menstruation

2. Painful menses

3. Bleeding

4. Hair loss

5. Headache

6. Increased chances of Breast cancer.

 3.  FELDIN

The drug is Piroxicam. It belongs to a class called NSAIDS (Just like Diclofenac). It is often used during Menstruation for menstrual pains by a lot of women.

When misused, it can cause:

1. Ulcer

2. Hypertension

3. Hearing problem

4. Kidney damage

5. Problems with the Pancreas

6. Liver damage.

 4.  COUGH SYRUP

You will wonder why Cough syrups are a best seller in Pharmacies,  especially the ones with Codeine. Has various constituents but lot of people take it like Fanta & mix in drinks

When misused, it can cause:

1. Psychiatric problems like Hallucinations, Delusions

2. Addiction

3. Sudden death

 5.  IBUPROFEN

Common pain medicine taken by lot of people. Common also among elderly when they say they have "Rheumatism".

When misused, it can cause:

1. Internal bleeding

2. Hypertension

3. Heart attack

4. It can trigger an asthmatic attack

5. Kidney failure

6. Increases your risk of Abortion (controversial)

 6.  COFFEE

Coffee contains Caffeine it has become like daily water for some people.

Executives, students & anyone who wants to stay alert have experimented

When misused, it can cause:

1. Hypertension

2. Sleep problems

3. Anxiety

4. Headache

5. Abnormal beating of the heart

6. Not safe in Pregnancy

7.  TETRACYCLINE

Common one is Doxycycline a lot of people admitted to using it for so called 'toilet infection' and abortion.

When misused, it can cause:

1. Liver damage

2. Skin problems

3. Hearing problem

4. It crosses the Placenta and damages the baby's bone and teeth

5. A No No if you're pregnant.

8.  VITAMIN C

It might look like that small orange pill or sweet white pills. It is like Chewing gum for some people.

 When misused, it can cause:

1. Excess and overdose of it can increase your chances of having a Kidney stone which can damage the Kidneys.

Especially when one has a background kidney problem.

9.  PARACETAMOL

One of the most available pain killers and with just 100 naira, you can purchase it.

Some people even use it in cooking meat to make Meat tender/soft, which is too wrong.and dangerous for the health.

When Paracetamol is overused, it can cause:

1. Liver damage

2. Kidney damage.

Also, be careful with paracetamol in children.

10.  FLAGYL

This is one of the most abused Antibiotic in Nigeria. People take it like they are taking candy bars. Any small diarrhoea, they take it.

Some side effects if abused are:

1. It can reduce the blood cells count.

2. It can damage the brain and nerves

3. Not best safe early in Pregnancy

4. It has controversial link to Cancer in Animals.

11. ALABUKUN 

Alabukun powder contains aspirin and caffeine. A lot of persons use it for pain relief, especially bricklayers and heavy duty workers

Some dangers if abused:

1. Ulcers

2. Bleeding

3. Liver damage

4. Kidney damage

5. Heart attack

6. Hypertension.

7. One can even bleed to death

12.  AMPICLOX

It contains Ampicillin and Cloxacillin. It is now a drug people run to 'flush' their system after sex, abortion or treat so called "Toilet infections".

Some dangers if abused:

1. Dangerous in people with penicillin allergy (Bad reactions)

2. Seizures

3. Damage the muscles

4. Kidney problems.

13. CYPROHEPTADINE

Common brand is Cypri Gold. People have abused it, because it can stimulate appetite, in a bid to gain weight.

Some dangers if abused:

1. It can affect blood cells

2. Damage the liver

3. Cause poor sleep

4. Abnormal hand shaking

5. Ringing in ears

6. Mess your menses up

7. Low blood pressure.

14.  LEXOTAN

One of the most abused drugs by Nigerians in a bid to get good sleep. It sedates.

Some dangers if abused:

1. It can be addictive

2. Dizziness and memory problem,

3. Reduce libido,

4. Liver damage

Stopping it suddenly after long abuse is also dangerous (See a Doctor to guide you ).

15.  TRAMADOL 

Tramadol is meant to be a tightly regulated drug, but sadly in Nigeria even with 50 naira you can get it on the streets.

Some dangers if abused:

1. Addiction can cut off your breathing

2. Seizures

3. Seeing things not there

4. Headache, 

5. Anxiety.

Share this with someone who would gain from this and don't hesitate to give more examples of drugs commonly abused in Nigeria in the comment section.