Five unauthorized products seized from Keebo Sports Supplements in Winnipeg may pose serious health risks

Starting date:

September 30, 2016

Type of communication:

Information Update

Subcategory:

Drugs

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Product Safety

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-60456

• 
  Issue
• 
  What you should do
• 
  Who is affected
• 
  Background
• 
  Media enquiries
• 
  Public enquiries
• 
  What Health Canada is doing
• 
  Images

Issue

September 30, 2016
For immediate release

Health Canada seized five unauthorized products promoted as workout or weight loss supplements from Keebo Sports Supplements at 1504 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba (see table below). The products are labelled to contain various prescription and other drug substances that may pose serious risks to the health of Canadians.

Affected Products

What you should do

• Stop using these products. Consult with your health care professional if you have used any of these products and have health concerns.
• Read product labels to verify that health products have been authorized for sale by Health Canada. Authorized health products have an eight-digit DIN, a DIN-HM or a NPN. You can also check if products have been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada's Drug Product Database and Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
• Report adverse events to health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1-866-234 2345, or by reporting online, by mail or by fax.
• Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1-800-267-9675, or complete an online complaint form.

Who is affected

• Consumers who have bought or used the product(s).

Background

Yohimbine is a prescription drug and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. The use of drugs containing yohimbine (either as yohimbine hydrochloride or yohimbe bark extract) may result in serious adverse reactions, particularly in people with high blood pressure, or heart, kidney or liver disease. Side effects associated with yohimbine 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.

Rauwolfia is a prescription drug that can be used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). People with heart conditions or psychiatric disorders should receive close medical supervision when using it as it can make certain conditions, such as depression, worse. Common side effects include tiredness, sleepiness, depression, nasal obstruction and breathlessness. Rauwolfia should not be used by children, or pregnant or nursing women.

1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA) is a drug that is not authorized for use in Canada. Side effects include high blood pressure, shortness of breath, chest pain, stroke and psychiatric disorders.

Epiandrosterone and 4-androsterone are drugs that are not authorized for use in Canada. Epiandrosterone is a metabolite of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and is a weak androgen, or male hormone. DHEA can cause higher than normal levels of male hormones in the body and could increase the risk of prostate, breast, ovarian and other hormone-sensitive cancers. Potential side effects include serious cardiovascular disease, and changes in fertility and sperm production. DHEA should be avoided by individuals with a history of abnormal heart rhythms, blood clotting disorders, liver disease, and those who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

4-androsterone is a metabolite of testosterone. Risks of using testosterone can include liver disease, heart disease and behavioural changes. Testosterone should not be used in men with prostate cancer.

Media enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983

Public enquiries

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

What Health Canada is doing

Health Canada seized the products from the retail location after receiving a consumer complaint. Should additional retailers or distributors be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians.

Stay connected with Health Canada and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using social media tools.

Images

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