This page has been archived on the Web

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Foreign product alert

Foreign Product Alerts: Various Sexual Enhancement Products

Starting date:
March 26, 2014
Posting date:
March 26, 2014
Type of communication:
Foreign Product Alert (FPA)
Subcategory:
Drugs
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Source of alert:

Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration

Issue:
Undeclared Substance
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-38577

Introduction

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.

Affected products

  • Yong Gang
  • Black Ant King
  • Viaplus Gold
  • Maximum Powerful
  • MMC Maxman V Capsules, Maxman IX Capsules and Maxman XI Tablets
  • UPMAX
  • MSS Maximum Sexual Stimulant
  • Nite Rider

Yong Gang

Product description

This product is promoted for sexual enhancement.

Hazard identified

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration warned consumers not to use this product after it was found to have sildenafil and tadalafil, drug ingredients that were not declared on the product label. Sildenafil and tadalafil are prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction and should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Place of origin

Unknown

Side effects

Sildenafil and tadalafil should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (e.g., nitroglycerine) as they 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.

Black Ant King, Viaplus Gold, Maximum Powerful

Product description

These products are promoted for sexual enhancement.

Hazard identified

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration warned consumers not to use this product after it was found contain sildenafil, a drug ingredient that was not declared on the product label. Sildenafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Place of origin

Unknown

Side effects

Sildenafil 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 side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

MMC Maxman V Capsules, Maxman IX Capsules, Maxman XI

Product description

These products are promoted for sexual enhancement.

Hazard identified

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) warned consumers not to use “MMC Maxman V Capsules,” “Maxman IX Capsules” and “Maxman XI Tablets” after the TGA found that all three products contained undeclared sildenafil.

The product “MMC Maxman V Capsules” was also found to contain undeclared phenolphthalein.

  • Sildenafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
  • Phenolphthalein was previously used as a laxative but is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because it may cause cancer.

Place of origin

Unknown

Side effects

Sildenafil 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 side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

In addition to cancer, side effects associated with phenolphthalein include decreased blood pressure, skin rash and gastrointestinal bleeding.

UPMAX

Product description

These products are promoted for sexual enhancement.

Hazard identified

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) warned consumers not to use this product after it was found to contain sulfoaildenafil, a drug ingredient that was not declared on the product label. Sulfoaildenafil is an unauthorized substance similar to sildenafil; a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction, and may pose similar health risks.

Sildenafil should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Place of origin

Unknown

Side effects

Sildenafil 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 side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

MSS Maximum Sexual Stimulant

Product description

These products are promoted for sexual enhancement.

Hazard identified

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration warned consumers not to use this product after it was found to contain sulfohydroxyhomosildenafil, a drug ingredient that was not declared on the product label. Sulfohydroxyhomosildenafil is an unauthorized substance similar to sildenafil, a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction, and may pose similar health risks.

Sildenafil should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Place of origin

Unknown

Side effects

Sildenafil 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 side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

Nite Rider

Product description

These products are promoted for sexual enhancement.

Hazard identified

The Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration warned consumers not to use this product after it was found to contain yohimbine, a drug ingredient that was not declared on the product label.

Yohimbine is a prescription drug used to treat abnormal blood pressure. It should only be taken under the supervision of a health care professional.

Place of origin

Unknown

Side effects

Side effects associated with yohimbine include abnormal blood pressure and heartbeat, anxiety, tremors, headache, nausea and sleep disorders.

What you should do

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

Canadians who have these products are advised not to use them, and should consult with a healthcare professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of these products.

Background

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have 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 January 31, 2014, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of these products have been reported to Health Canada.

Report a health or safety concern

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

Images

Select thumbnail to enlarge - opens in a new window