Unauthorized eye drops seized from two Richmond, B.C. retailers
- Starting date:
- July 16, 2015
- Type of communication:
- Advisory
- Subcategory:
- Drugs
- Source of recall:
- Health Canada
- Issue:
- Unauthorized products, Product withdrawal
- Audience:
- General Public
- Identification number:
- RA-54270
Issue
What you should do
Who is affected
Background
Report health or safety concerns
Related AWRs
Media enquiries
Public enquiries
What Health Canada is doing
Images
Issue
Health Canada is informing Canadians that five brands of unauthorized eye drops (listed in table below) labelled to contain a prescription drug (neostigmine methylsulfate) have been seized from two retailers, Cube Inc. and Magic Queen Cosmetics in Richmond, B.C. (Aberdeen Centre 4151 Hazelbridge Way). These products may pose serious risks to the health of Canadians.
What you should do
- Speak to your healthcare practitioner should you have any questions or concerns regarding the use 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), a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) or a Natural Product Number (NPN) on the label. Products that have been authorized for sale can be found by searching the Drug Product Database and the Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
- Report any adverse events using these products to Health Canada.
- Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free to 1-800-267-9675, or complete an online complaint form.
Who is affected
Canadians who either have used or purchased these products.
Background
The eye drops seized at retail labelled to contain Neostigmine methylsulfate are promoted to relieve tired and red eyes.
There are no approved eye drops containing neostigmine methylsulfate on the Canadian market. In the past, drugs similar to neostigmine were in use for the treatment of glaucoma. These medications are no longer widely used due to their significant number of potential eye-related side effects including: blurred distance vision, frontal headaches, twitching lids, red injected eyes, cataracts, allergic reactions, iris cysts, retinal detachment, and the potential for causing a specific type of glaucoma attack. In addition, absorption into the nose via the tear duct may cause serious cardiac and respiratory side effects.
| Product Name | Prescription Ingredient(s) | Retail Location |
|---|---|---|
| Super Cool Pit | Neostigmine methylsulfate | Cube Inc. |
| Nano Eye | Neostigmine methylsulfate | Cube Inc. |
| Digi Eye | Neostigmine methylsulfate | Cube Inc. |
| Sante Neo FX | Neostigmine methylsulfate | Magic Queen Cosmetics |
| Z! | Neostigmine methylsulfate | Cube Inc. and Magic Queen Cosmetics |
Report health or safety concerns
- Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
- Visit MedEffect Canada's web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax.
Stay connected with Health Canada and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using social media tools.
Related AWRs
Media enquiries
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983
Public enquiries
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709
What Health Canada is doing
Health Canada has seized the products from the retail locations. Should additional retailers or distributors of these products be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians.
Images
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