Unauthorized "poppers" and sexual enhancement products seized from adult store in Toronto

Starting date:

April 27, 2017

Type of communication:

Advisory

Subcategory:

Drugs

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Identification number:

RA-63160

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

Update – May 12, 2017

Health Canada laboratory tests have confirmed that an additional unauthorized product seized from 24 Hour Adult Mart in Toronto contains undeclared hydroxyhomosildenafil, which may pose serious risks to the health of Canadians. The product, which is promoted for sexual enhancement, has been added to the “Affected products” table below and photos of the product have been added under the “Images” section below.

Update – May 1, 2017

Four additional unauthorized products that may pose serious health risks were seized from 24 Hour Adult Mart in Toronto. The products, which are promoted for sexual enhancement, have been added to the "Affected products" table below and photos of the products have been added under the "Images" section below.

Update – April 27, 2017

Health Canada laboratory tests have confirmed that two additional unauthorized products seized from 24 Hour Adult Mart in Toronto contain undeclared tadalafil, which may pose serious risks to the health of Canadians. The additional products, which are promoted for sexual enhancement, have been added to the “Affected products” table below and photos of the products have been added under the “Images” section below.

Original Advisory – January 24, 2017

Issue

Health Canada is advising Canadians that it has seized unauthorized health products being sold at 24 Hour Adult Mart on Yonge St., Toronto, ON (units 540, 538 and 536).

Three of the seized products are "poppers" (Rush, Ram and The Original Jungle Juice Platinum) labelled to contain alkyl nitrites. These can be dangerous if inhaled or ingested. The other seized products are promoted for sexual enhancement and labelled to contain drugs that may pose serious health risks (DHEA, pregnenolone, and yohimbe/yohimbine).

Products affected

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 DIN, DIN-HM or NPN. You can also check if 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.

Background

"Poppers" is a slang term for products that contain alkyl nitrites. Despite being labelled for use as leather cleaners, room odourizers or liquid incense, these products are inhaled or ingested by consumers for recreational purposes. 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.

DHEA is a controlled drug that can cause higher than normal levels of female and male hormones in the body and could increase the risk of prostate, breast, ovarian, and other hormone-sensitive cancers. Potential side effects include serious cardiovascular disease, as well as changes in fertility and sperm production. DHEA should be avoided by individuals with a history of abnormal heart rhythms, blood clotting disorders, liver disease and those who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Pregnenolone is a prescription drug that can cause higher than normal levels of female and male hormones in the body and could increase the risk of prostate, breast, ovarian, and other hormone-sensitive cancers. Pregnenolone should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, and should be avoided by individuals who suffer from epileptic seizures or who are taking anti-seizure medications.

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

Tadalafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. It 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 possible side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

Hydroxyhomosildenafil is an unauthorized substance similar to sildenafil and may pose similar health risks. 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) 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.

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 location. Should additional retailers or distributors be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians.

Images

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