Unauthorized drugs for abortion and emergency contraception sold illegally on “Dr. Pooja” websites

Unauthorized prescription drugs labelled to contain mifepristone and misoprostol: Mifepristone and misoprostol are prescription drug ingredients taken in sequence for the medical termination of a pregnancy. For safety, it is very important that patients have close medical supervision, guidance and care. The use of mifepristone and misoprostol is not suitable to terminate all pregnancies. For example, the drugs should not be used by people who are more than nine weeks (63 days) pregnant, who have a pregnancy outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy), who have an intra-uterine contraceptive device, who have bleeding disorders or who are on a blood thinner therapy, who are on long-term corticosteroid therapy, who have uncontrolled asthma or who are allergic to mifepristone or misoprostol.

There is an authorized mifepristone and misoprostol combination product available in Canada, sold under the brand name Mifegymiso. Health Canada has put in place several safeguards for its safe and effective use, including access to emergency medical care and scheduled follow-up care. People who take unauthorized drugs without proper medical supervision are at an increased risk of severe infection (that could be fatal), prolonged heavy bleeding, serious skin reactions and birth defects (if the pregnancy is not successfully terminated).

Unauthorized emergency contraceptive labelled to contain levonorgestrel: Levonorgestrel is a non-prescription drug used as an emergency contraceptive to prevent pregnancy within 72 hours of known or suspected contraceptive failure or unprotected sex, when sold as a single ingredient oral dose containing no more than 1.5 milligrams. Unauthorized emergency contraceptives labelled to contain levonorgestrel may be ineffective and may not prevent pregnancy as expected. The drug should not be taken by those allergic to levonorgestrel, or by those who are, or who suspect they are pregnant. For patients with undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding, a pregnancy test should be performed before taking levonorgestrel. Levonorgestrel as an emergency contraceptive does not induce abortion and should not be taken by pregnant women as it will not be effective. There are authorized levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive products available in Canada.