Unauthorized health products seized from two adult stores in Scarborough may pose serious health risks

Starting date:

May 25, 2017

Posting date:

May 25, 2017

Type of communication:

Advisory

Subcategory:

Drugs

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Identification number:

RA-63364

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

Update – June 6, 2017

This advisory has been updated to reflect additional unauthorized products seized from these retailers.

Issue

Health Canada is advising Canadians that multiple unauthorized health products seized from two retailers in Scarborough, ON, may pose serious risks to health. Products seized include “poppers” and products promoted for sexual enhancement.

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 Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM). You can also check whether 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 any of these products.

Affected products

The following unauthorized products are either labelled to contain or have been tested and found to contain the listed ingredients.

The following unauthorized products were also seized by Health Canada. The Department previously seized unauthorized products with similar packaging from other retailers because they were labelled to contain or tested and found to contain a prescription drug.

Background

"Poppers" is a slang term for products that contain alkyl nitrites. Despite being labelled for various uses such as leather cleaners, room odourizers or liquid incense, these products are inhaled or ingested by consumers for recreational purposes. Alkyl nitrites, such as amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite, are prescription drugs. Products containing alkyl nitrites may pose serious risks, including death, depending on the amount used, how frequently they are used and how long they are used for, as well as the person's health and the other medications they may be taking. Since it is difficult to control how much is inhaled, people can accidentally overdose. Swallowing these products can lead to serious medical complications and may be fatal. People with certain medical conditions (including recent head trauma, bleeding into the head, glaucoma, or heart disease) and those taking certain medications (particularly drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction, and other drugs (such as high blood pressure medications, certain migraine drugs, and high doses of aspirin) or illicit drugs are at particular risk.

Health Canada maintains a list of retail locations across Canada that have been found to be selling "poppers". Canadians can monitor the list for updates in their area.

Sildenafil and tadalafil are prescription drug ingredients. Products containing these ingredients should only be used under the supervision of a health care practitioner. Sildenafil and tadalafil should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (such as 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.

Desmethyl carbondenafil and homosildenafil are unauthorized substances similar to sildenafil and may pose similar health risks.

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

Dapoxetine is a drug used to treat premature ejaculation and is not authorized for sale in Canada. Side effects include fainting or loss of consciousness, dizziness, changes in blood pressure, blurred vision, seizures, headache, diarrhea and nausea. Dapoxetine should not be used by individuals who have cardiac conditions, liver disease, a history of mania or bipolar disorder, or are taking certain other medications, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antidepressants, and a number of other drugs and herbal products that can interact with dapoxetine.

Related AWRs

Poppers sold across Canada pose serious risks

2013-06-27 | Health products

Advisory

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 locations. Should additional products, retailers or distributors be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians as necessary.

Images

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