Beline Capsules

Starting date:

July 12, 2011

Posting date:

July 12, 2011

Type of communication:

Foreign Product Alert (FPA)

Subcategory:

Natural health products

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Product Safety, Undeclared Substance

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-120001698

These products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible they may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Source of alert

United Kingdom Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Product names

Beline Capsules

Manufacturer / Place of origin

Distributed in the United Kingdom by Focus HR Limited.

Product description

Beline Capsules is promoted as an herbal food supplement used to relieve pain and other arthritis symptoms.

Reason for warning

The U.K. Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advised consumers not to use Beline Capsules after it was found to contain undeclared chlorphenamine, an over-the-counter antihistamine drug.

According to the MHRA alert, Beline Capsules are being sold via mail-order or the Internet.

Possible side effects

Side effects associated with chlorphenamine include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and blurred vision.

What you should do

Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.

Background

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.

Report a health or safety concern

• Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
• Visit Health Canada's Web page on ;Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax.

Media enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983

Public enquiries

613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709