The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued an urgent public health alert warning Nigerians against the purchase, distribution, and use of medicines containing levamisole due to the risk of severe neurological complications.
The warning was contained in Public Alert No. 030/2026, following a recent safety recommendation by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which was endorsed by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) on April 6, 2026.
According to the international safety review, all medicines containing levamisole have been recommended for withdrawal from the European market because their benefits no longer outweigh the associated health risks for both adults and children.
Levamisole is an anti-worm medicine traditionally used to treat parasitic infections by paralysing and eliminating worms from the body.
However, the review established a direct link between the drug and leukoencephalopathy, a rare but serious neurological disorder that damages the brain’s white matter.
According to the findings, the condition can be debilitating and life-threatening, particularly when not diagnosed and treated promptly.
The review also noted that there are currently no known measures to reduce the risk associated with the drug, and no category of patients has been identified as being less vulnerable to the adverse effects.
In response to the findings, NAFDAC urged importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers to remain vigilant throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The agency advised anyone currently using or who has recently taken levamisole-containing medicines to discontinue use immediately and seek urgent medical attention if they experience symptoms such as muscle weakness, difficulty speaking, confusion, or problems with coordination and movement.
NAFDAC also directed hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers to immediately audit their inventories for medicines containing levamisole.
The agency instructed healthcare facilities to quarantine any remaining stock, stop further sale or distribution, and surrender the products to the nearest NAFDAC office for appropriate regulatory action.
The regulatory agency said it would continue to monitor emerging global safety information and take additional measures where necessary to safeguard public health.
NAFDAC also encouraged Nigerians to report any adverse drug reactions through the nearest NAFDAC office or the agency’s official electronic reporting platforms.
