Health Canada has issued a recall of 23 various unauthorized health products that听may contain dangerous ingredients such as prescription drugs that are not listed on the labels.听
The department issued the recall on Feb. 10, noting that the products are promoted for sexual enhancement, weight loss, as a workout aid, or as 鈥減oppers鈥�. Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the products and consult a听healthcare professional if they have any听health concerns.听
Unauthorized health products have not been approved by Health Canada, which means that they have not been assessed for safety, effectiveness and quality. As such, they may contain ingredients that are not listed on the label, such as听prescription drugs, and possibly at doses exceeding maximum recommended amounts. However, the label may also indicate a dangerous ingredient or combination of ingredients.听
In order to verify that products听have been authorized for sale by Health Canada, consumers should carefully read product labels.听Authorized health products have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM). You can also check if products have been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada鈥檚听听补苍诲听.
See a full list of the recalled products .
The following prescription drugs were found in the unauthorized health products:听
厂颈濒诲别苍补蹿颈濒听is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. It should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (e.g., nitroglycerine) as it can cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure. Individuals with heart problems are at increased risk of cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack, stroke, chest pain, high blood pressure and abnormal heartbeat. Other possible side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.听Hydroxythiohomosildenafil听补苍诲听thiodimethylsildenafil听are unauthorized substances that are similar to sildenafil and may pose similar health risks.
Tadalafil听is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. It should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (e.g., nitroglycerine) since it can cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure. Individuals with heart problems are at increased risk of cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack, stroke, chest pain, high blood pressure and abnormal heartbeat. Other possible side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.听Aminotadalafil听is an unauthorized substance that is similar to tadalafil and may pose similar health risks.
Yohimbine听is a prescription drug and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Yohimbine is derived from yohimbe, a bark extract. The use of yohimbine or yohimbe may result in serious adverse reactions particularly in people with high blood pressure, or heart, kidney or liver disease. Side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, anxiety, dizziness, tremors, headache, nausea and sleep disorders. It should not be used by children, or pregnant or nursing women.
Health Canada on its website, as well as听the stores where the products were seized from. While they are all located in Toronto, it is possible that the products could show up in other provinces. As a result, Canadians听are encouraged to check back regularly for updates.听
听these or any unauthorized health products to Health Canada.
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