ArticlePharmacy practice
Availability and rationality of fixed dose combinations available in Kaduna, Nigeria.
Article in Pharmacy practice. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Critical Analysis of Fixed-Dose Antibiotic Combinations Sold in Kinshasa-Democratic Republic of the Congo.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Pill Burden: A Major Barrier to HAART Adherence and Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCS) as its Solution - A Mini-Review.Current HIV research · 2024Review
- Not recommended fixed-dose antibiotic combinations in low- and middle-income countries - the example of Tanzania.Antimicrobial resistance and infection control · 2023Review
- The Development of Innovative Dosage Forms of the Fixed-Dose Combination of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.Pharmaceutics · 2022Review
- Implementing essential diagnostics-learning from essential medicines: A scoping review.PLOS global public health · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundFixed-dose drug combinations (FDCs), are combinations of two or more active drugs in a single dosage form. Despite the advantages obtained from the use of these agents, there is increasing evidence questioning the rationality of several FDCs found in pharmaceutical markets-especially those in developing countries like Nigeria.
objectivesTo describe the availability of FDCs in drug retailing outlets located in Kaduna Nigeria, and to assess FDC registration status and inclusion on national and international essential medicines lists (EMLs). Rationality of selected FDCs was also assessed.
methodsA cross-sectional survey was carried out from June to September 2018 in 60 registered pharmacies and patent medicine shops selected through multi-stage sampling. A data collection form was used to obtain information on the generic names and strengths of the active ingredients of the FDCs, their country of manufacture and evidence of registration with the Nigerian drug regulatory agency. To assess rationality, a scoring rubric developed from earlier studies was used. Data collected was coded and entered into a Microsoft excel 2016 spreadsheet for analysis. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were used to report the data collected.
resultsFDCs encountered included 74 oral tablets/capsules, 52 oral liquids and 23 topical semi solids. Majority of the available FDCs were registered by Nigerian drug regulatory agency (91.5%), although only 8.5% and 6.5% in total were included on the Nigerian EML and the WHO model list respectively. Of the 99 FDCs assessed for rationality, 58 (58.6%) were found to be rational. Irrational FDCs included drugs acting on the respiratory tract (29.3%), analgesics (26.8%) and anti-infectives (22%).
conclusionsA wide variety of FDCs were available in the study area, even though not all of them were rational. There is an urgent need for policy makers within the country to develop better detailed guidelines for FDC registration.
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