The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned patients against combining certain medicines, citing the risk of serious adverse effects, including drug poisoning and hospitalisation.
The agency said the risk is particularly associated with the concurrent use of gabapentinoids, including gabapentin and pregabalin, with opioids and benzodiazepines.
According to NAFDAC, emerging evidence contained in a report received by the agency showed that combining the medicines could significantly increase the risk of harmful health outcomes.
In Public Alert No. 039/2026 issued on Friday, the agency cited a study by researchers at University College London (UCL), which found that among patients taking gabapentinoids, concurrent use of benzodiazepines was associated with about twice the risk of hospitalisation for drug poisoning, while combining them with opioids increased the risk by about 30 per cent.
Gabapentinoids are commonly prescribed for neuropathic pain, epilepsy and anxiety disorders and are increasingly used as alternatives to opioids in pain management.
NAFDAC said the risk of drug poisoning could be higher among elderly patients, people with respiratory disorders and those taking opioids, benzodiazepines or other central nervous system depressants.
Patients with a history of substance abuse were also identified as being at higher risk.
Possible effects of the drug combinations, according to the agency, include excessive drowsiness, respiratory depression, impaired consciousness and drug poisoning.
NAFDAC advised members of the public to use gabapentin and pregabalin only as prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals and to inform their doctors of all medicines they are taking.
It also warned against self-medication and unauthorised combinations of medicines, urging patients to seek immediate medical attention if they experience unusual drowsiness, difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness while taking the drugs.
The agency further encouraged healthcare professionals and consumers to report suspected cases involving substandard or falsified medicines and medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its designated reporting channels.