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Foreign product alert

Foreign Product Alert: Africa Black Ant, Anyang Herbal Blue, Anyang Herbal Red, Arouse-Plus, Australia Kangaroo Essence, Bazook Bullet, Change Me Herbal Slimming, Placebo Tablets, Ultimate & Herbal Slim Weight Loss capsules

Starting date:
May 12, 2017
Posting date:
May 12, 2017
Type of communication:
Foreign Product Alert (FPA)
Subcategory:
Natural health products, Specialized Products
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Issue:
Undeclared Substance
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-63260

These foreign health products have been found by regulators in other countries to contain undeclared drug ingredients.

The 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.

Unauthorized Foreign Health Products
Product Name(s) Hazard(s) Identified Source of Alert
Unauthorized Sexual Enhancement Products
Africa Black Ant capsules Undeclared sildenafil Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration
Arouse-Plus Undeclared tadalafil United States Food and Drug Administration
Australia Kangaroo Essence Undeclared sildenafil Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration
Bazook Bullet Undeclared tadalafil United States Food and Drug Administration
Unauthorized Weight Loss Products
Anyang Herbal Blue Undeclared sibutramine Singapore Health Sciences Authority
Anyang Herbal Red Undeclared diclofenac, phenolphthalein, and sibutramine Singapore Health Sciences Authority
Change Me Herbal Slimming Capsules Undeclared sibutramine Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration
Ultimate & Herbal Slim Weight Loss capsules Undeclared sibutramine Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration
Other Unauthorized Products
Placebo tablets Undeclared clenbuterol Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration

What you should do

  • Contact Health Canada at 1-800-267-9675 or by completing an online complaint form if you find a product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.
  • Consult a healthcare professional if you have health concerns related to the use of any of these products.
  • Read the label of the products you buy to verify that they have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality. Health products that have been authorized for sale by Health Canada will have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM).

Background

Prescription drugs should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Clenbuterol is a veterinary drug used to treat respiratory diseases in horses. It is not authorized for human use in Canada. Serious side effects include seizure, heart attack, psychosis, or damage to skeletal muscle. Other side effects include irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, tremors, nervousness, nausea, increased blood sugar, headache and dizziness.

Diclofenac is a prescription drug in the family known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and is used to treat pain, fever and inflammation. Side-effects include changes in blood pressure, gastrointestinal disorders (with or without bleeding), anemia, kidney failure and reduced blood clotting ability.

Phenolphthalein was previously used as a laxative but is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because it may cause cancer. Additional side effects include decreased blood pressure, skin rash and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Sibutramine was previously used to treat obesity but is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because of its association with an increased risk of cardiovascular side effects, such as heart attack and stroke. Other side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, dry mouth, difficulty sleeping and constipation.

Sildenafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (such as nitroglycerine) because 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 side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision and hearing loss.

Tadalafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. Tadalafil should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (such as nitroglycerine) because 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 side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision and hearing loss. 

Report health or safety concerns

To report a side effect to a health product to Health Canada:

  • 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

As of March 3, 2017, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of these products have been reported to Health Canada.

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