# Griseofulvin in Nigeria

Griseofulvin has 6 active NAFDAC registrations in our October 2026 copy of the register, from 6 registration holders; 20 further listings have lapsed.

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/griseofulvin/
- Drug class: Systemic antifungal (mitotic inhibitor) (Antifungals)
- Also known as: Fulcin, Grisovin, Griseofulvin 500mg, Ringworm tablets
- Prescription required: yes
- On the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines
- Last updated: October 2026

## Price in Nigeria

As of October 2026, Griseofulvin sells for about ₦7,750 for tablets online in Nigeria (Refucil, Genevin) at three online pharmacies; syrup ₦2,500–₦2,550. The online price is roughly unchanged since August 2026. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.

## What is Griseofulvin?

Griseofulvin is an oral antifungal medicine for infections caused by dermatophytes — the ringworm family of fungi that attack skin, hair and nails. Taken by mouth, it deposits itself in newly forming keratin, so the new hair, skin or nail grows out fungus-proof while the infected old growth is shed. That mechanism explains both its strength and its patience: it reaches infections a cream cannot, and it needs weeks to months to finish the job.

Its great Nigerian role is scalp ringworm in children — tinea capitis, the patchy, scaly, hair-breaking infection that runs through classrooms and barbershops. Creams cannot reach fungus inside the hair shaft, so an oral medicine is the treatment, and griseofulvin has been the standard one for decades; it is on the WHO essential medicines list for exactly this. Older Nigerians know it by the classic brand names Fulcin and Grisovin, and ask for it by those names long after the packs on the shelf became generics from Emzor and others.

The register tells the same churning story as many older generics: our copy of the NAFDAC register carries a couple of dozen griseofulvin registrations, but most are lapsed or inactive, with only about a third currently active — including Nigerian-made options. So the brand in the pharmacy this year may not be the one from last year, and checking the number on the pack is more useful than trusting a name.

## What is Griseofulvin used for?

- Tinea capitis (scalp ringworm), particularly in children — the core indication
- Widespread or stubborn tinea corporis (body ringworm) that topical creams have not cleared
- Tinea cruris (groin ringworm) when recurrent or extensive
- Tinea unguium / onychomycosis (fungal nails), where treatment runs for months
- Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) that keeps relapsing after creams

## Dosage

Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information.

- Adults: A common adult dose is 500mg once daily (or in divided doses) with a meal containing some fat or oil — a normal Nigerian meal does fine — because fat dramatically improves absorption. Skin infections typically need 2–6 weeks, scalp infections 6–8 weeks, and nail infections can need 6 months or more. The commonest treatment failure is simply stopping too soon, when the skin looks better but the fungus is not gone.
- Children: Children are dosed by weight, commonly around 10–20mg per kg daily depending on the preparation, using the 125mg tablets or the 125mg/5mL suspension. Scalp ringworm in a child needs the full 6–8 week course — and it is worth treating combs, caps and clippers at the same time, or the infection simply returns.
- Elderly: No special dose is usual, but liver function matters more with age, and long courses in older adults deserve a doctor's check of what else they are taking — griseofulvin's interactions are its quiet hazard.

Take it with food, complete the full course, and do not judge success by the first fortnight. For scalp ringworm, family screening matters — treating one child while a sibling carries the fungus is how a household stays infected for a year.

## Side effects

Common: Headache — common in the first days and usually settling; Nausea or stomach upset; Skin sensitivity to sunlight — noticeable rashes after sun exposure; Altered taste; Dizziness or tiredness.

Serious (seek medical help immediately): Allergic reactions and severe skin rashes — rare; Liver upset — jaundice, dark urine, persistent nausea; A lupus-like reaction or worsening of lupus — rare; Low white blood cell counts on long courses — rare; Severe reaction with alcohol — flushing, racing heart.

When to see a doctor: Stop the tablets and see a doctor for yellowing of the eyes or skin, a spreading rash or blistering, unusual bruising, or persistent vomiting — and report any infection that looks unchanged after a month of proper treatment, because the diagnosis may need a second look.

## Warnings

Do not take if: Pregnancy — griseofulvin can harm an unborn baby and must not be taken while pregnant; Significant liver disease; Porphyria; Known allergy to griseofulvin.

Interactions: Hormonal contraceptives — griseofulvin can make the pill fail; use an additional barrier method during treatment and for a month after; Warfarin — griseofulvin reduces its effect, risking clots; the combination needs INR monitoring; Alcohol — can produce flushing, racing heart and vomiting with griseofulvin; best avoided during the course; Phenobarbital and similar enzyme-inducing medicines reduce griseofulvin's absorption and can cause treatment failure; Ciclosporin and some other transplant medicines — levels can fall dangerously.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Do not take griseofulvin in pregnancy — it is one of the few common medicines with a hard line here. Women should avoid becoming pregnant during treatment and for at least one month after finishing; men are advised to avoid fathering a child during treatment and for six months after, because the drug affects sperm. Breastfeeding while on griseofulvin is generally not recommended.

## Brands in Nigeria

Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Recgriso Suspension (GoldMoore International Limited, made in Nigeria); Emzor Griseofulvin 500 Tablet (Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, made in Nigeria); Emzor Griseofulvin 125 Tablet (Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, made in Nigeria); Griseo Cream (La-Lid Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, made in India); Refucil (Reals Pharmaceutical Limited, made in Nigeria); Genevin (Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited, made in China); Grisokris (Krishat Pharma Industries Limited, made in Nigeria).
Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/griseofulvin/brands/

## How to verify it is genuine

1. Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack — Emzor Griseofulvin 500 carries A11-100117 and the 125mg strength A11-100064 in our copy of the register.
2. Recgriso suspension (GoldMoore, made in Nigeria) is registered as A4-2598.
3. Griseofulvin brands lapse often — most of the register's griseofulvin entries are no longer active — so run the exact number on your pack through our NAFDAC checker before paying.
4. For a child's scalp ringworm you may be offered the suspension: check its number separately, because suspensions and tablets are registered as different products.
5. Buy from a registered pharmacy. A medicine taken daily for six to eight weeks by a schoolchild is exactly where a substandard product wastes months and money.

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/

## FAQs

### Is griseofulvin the same as Fulcin?

Fulcin is a classic old brand name for griseofulvin, like Grisovin — the names many Nigerians learned in childhood. Those exact brands are no longer what sits on most shelves; today's packs are mostly generics, including Nigerian-made Emzor griseofulvin. Any registered griseofulvin of the right strength is the same medicine; verify the NAFDAC number on the pack rather than hunting for a nostalgic brand name.

### How long does griseofulvin take to cure ringworm?

Longer than feels natural: the medicine protects new growth rather than killing fungus in old skin and hair, so the infection clears as the old growth is replaced. Body ringworm typically needs 2–6 weeks, scalp ringworm 6–8 weeks, and fungal nails many months. The skin usually looks better well before the fungus is actually gone — stopping at that point is the classic way to relapse.

### Why must it be taken with food?

Griseofulvin dissolves poorly, and a meal with some fat or oil multiplies how much of the dose your body actually absorbs. Taken on an empty stomach, a full course can behave like half a course and the ringworm survives it. Any normal meal with oil in the cooking does the job — the tablet simply goes with lunch.

### Can I take griseofulvin while pregnant or trying for a baby?

No. Griseofulvin can harm an unborn baby, and the advice is strict: do not take it in pregnancy, avoid becoming pregnant during treatment and for a month after, and men should avoid fathering a child during treatment and for six months after. It also weakens hormonal contraceptives, so a barrier method is needed alongside the pill during treatment. For ringworm in pregnancy, ask a doctor about safer alternatives.

### Is there a newer alternative to griseofulvin?

Yes — terbinafine has become the preferred oral treatment for many fungal skin and nail infections in much of the world, with shorter courses, and fluconazole is used for some infections too. Griseofulvin remains a WHO-listed standard for children's scalp ringworm, it is familiar, and it is usually the cheapest oral option in Nigeria — which is why it is still everywhere. Which medicine fits depends on the infection, the patient's age and what else they take; that is a prescriber's call.

## Sources

- NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria)
- WHO Model List of Essential Medicines
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)