Unauthorized products may pose serious health risks
Summary
Stop using these products and consult your healthcare professional if you have health concerns. Report these or any unauthorized health products to Health Canada.
Affected products
Photo | Product & Promoted Use | Hazard Identified | Company | Action Taken | Date Added |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Brilliant Skin Essentials Brilliant Rejuv Topical Cream Skin lightening |
Labelled to contain tretinoin and 2% hydroquinone | Jedpar Health and Beauty Lethbridge, AB |
Seized from the warehouse location and removed from online sale | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Brilliant Skin Essentials Brilliant Rejuv Topical Solution (Toner) Skin lightening |
Labelled to contain tretinoin and 2% hydroquinone | Jedpar Health and Beauty Lethbridge, AB |
Seized from the warehouse location and removed from online sale | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Brilliant Skin Essentials Brilliant Rejuv Set Skin lightening |
Labelled to contain tretinoin and 2% hydroquinone | Jedpar Health and Beauty Lethbridge, AB |
Seized from the warehouse location and removed from online sale | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Aokeman Biaoge Sexual enhancement |
Product tested by Health Canada and found to contain sildenafil | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB Wah Loong Chinese Herbs Ltd. Wah Shun Chinese Herbs & Ginseng |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Chong Cao Lu Bian Wan Sexual enhancement |
Product tested by Health Canada and found to contain sildenafil | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Chong Cao Lu Bian Wong Sexual enhancement |
Product tablet and capsule tested by Health Canada and capsule found to contain sildenafil | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB Wah Shun Chinese Herbs & Ginseng |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Chong Cao Shuang Shen |
Product tested by Health Canada and found to contain sildenafil and acetaminophen | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB Wah Loong Chinese Herbs Ltd. Wah Shun Chinese Herbs & Ginseng |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Germany Black Ants (Sheng Jing Pian) |
Product tested by Health Canada and found to contain sildenafil and ciprofloxacin | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB Wah Loong Chinese Herbs Ltd. Wah Shun Chinese Herbs & Ginseng |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Germany Black King Kong (De Guo Hei Jin Gang) Sexual enhancement |
Product tested by Health Canada and found to contain sildenafil | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB Wah Loong Chinese Herbs Ltd. |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
King Kung Fu Sexual enhancement |
Product tested by Health Canada and found to contain sildenafil | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Li Long Germany Black King Kong |
Product tested by Health Canada and found to contain sildenafil and ciprofloxacin | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB< Wah Loong Chinese Herbs Ltd. |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Lu Rong Sheng Jing Wan Sexual enhancement |
Product tested by Health Canada and found to contain sildenafil | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB Wah Loong Chinese Herbs Ltd. |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Lu Xie Shen Dan Sexual enhancement |
Product tested by Health Canada and found to contain sildenafil, diclofenac and glyburide | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
![]() |
Vigour 800 Sexual enhancement |
Product tested by Health Canada and found to contain sildenafil and ciprofloxacin | Wah Hing Chinese Ginseng Center 999 36 Street NE #800G Calgary, AB
Wah Shun Chinese Herbs & Ginseng |
Seized from the retail location | 2022-06-16 |
Issue
Health Canada is advising Canadians about unauthorized health products that may pose serious health risks. The table is updated when Health Canada finds unauthorized health products that are promoted for sexual enhancement, weight loss, as a workout aid, as "popper" or for lightening skin or treating skin conditions (such as eczema or psoriasis). These products are labelled to contain or have been tested and found to contain dangerous ingredients. Links to previous tables with affected products are also available below.
Unauthorized health products have not been approved by Health Canada, which means that they have not been assessed for safety, effectiveness and quality. Unauthorized health products can pose many health dangers, including:
- They may contain ingredients not listed on the label. This includes ingredients like prescription drugs, possibly at doses exceeding maximum recommended amounts. Prescription drugs should be taken only under the supervision of a health professional because they may cause serious side effects. Using a product that contains ingredients that the consumer is not aware of increases the chance of dangerous allergies and interactions with other medications and foods.
- The label may indicate a dangerous ingredient or combination of ingredients. For example, it could list a drug that should be available only by prescription from a health care professional, or a combination of ingredients that Health Canada does not permit because of serious health risks.
Health Canada maintains this page so that Canadians can easily identify products they may have purchased and take appropriate action. Canadians are encouraged to check back regularly for updates. Advisories on safety issues involving other types of products are available in the recalls and safety alerts database.
What you should do
- Stop using the products listed in the table. Consult your health care professional if you have used these products and have health concerns, and for advice on which health products are best for you and your family.
- 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 if products have been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada’s Drug Product Database and Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
- Report any health product adverse events or complaints to Health Canada.
- See the additional information section on buying health products safely in the helpful links below.
- See these helpful links for additional information on buying health products safely:
What companies should know:
- Selling unauthorized health products in Canada is illegal.
- When Health Canada identifies unauthorized products that may pose serious health risks, Health Canada takes appropriate action to prevent further distribution and informs Canadians. This includes working with the Canada Border Services Agency to help prevent further importation of unauthorized products.
Additional information
Previous recalls or alerts
Background
Acetaminophen is a drug that can pose serious health risks, including liver damage, if too much is taken. This may lead to liver failure or, in the most severe cases, death. Early signs of taking too much acetaminophen include nausea, vomiting, lethargy, sweating, loss of appetite and pain in the upper part of the abdomen or stomach. Abdominal pain may be the first sign of liver damage and may not be apparent for 24 to 48 hours. Acetaminophen may also cause serious skin reactions. Symptoms include blistering, skin reddening and rash.
Ciprofloxacin in oral format (taken by mouth) is a prescription antibacterial drug used to treat bacterial infections of the lungs and airways, urinary system, prostate, skin, soft tissues, bones, and joints. It can also be used to treat diarrhea and certain sexually transmitted diseases caused by bacterial infections. Side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, joint pain, itching, and poor kidney function. Rare but serious side effects include disabling and possibly long-lasting tendonitis (tendon inflammation), tendon rupture (including the Achilles Tendon), nerve damage, neurological problems (including seizures), life-threatening heart issues (including heart electrical problems), myasthenia gravis (muscle disease), liver injury, and serious allergic reactions, including death. It is important to use this drug as directed by a health care professional. Misuse or overuse could lead to bacteria growth that will not be killed by ciprofloxacin, and could lead to bacterial resistance (the drug may not work in the future).
Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve pain and inflammation (for example, pain and swelling associated with certain types of arthritis). In oral format (taken by mouth), it is a prescription drug. Diclofenac increases the risk of serious heart-related events (such as heart attack and stroke), high blood pressure, stomach or intestinal bleeding or ulcers, severe kidney or liver problems, and bleeding or clotting problems. It should not be used by patients who have: severe heart problems; stomach or intestinal conditions; bleeding disorders; a history of asthma or allergic-type reactions after taking diclofenac, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or other NSAIDs; severe kidney or liver problems; or high potassium. It should also not be used by children less than 16 years old, or by women in the third trimester of pregnancy or who are breastfeeding. Use in the first and second trimester of pregnancy must be carefully weighed by a doctor and may require increased monitoring. Diclofenac risks may be higher for patients taking other medications, as well as elderly patients.
Glyburide is a prescription drug used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. Side effects may include severely low blood sugar (which can be life-threatening), stomach or intestinal problems, and serious skin and hypersensitivity reactions. Glyburide should not be used by people who: are less than 18 years of age; have type 1 diabetes; are pregnant or breastfeeding; or have liver disease or kidney impairment. It should also not be used during times of severe stress, such as during infection, mental stress, physical injury, or surgery. Risks may be higher for patients taking other medications, as well as elderly patients.
Hydroquinone is a prescription drug when it is greater than a 2% concentration and a natural health product at a concentration of 2% and under. It is used topically (applied to the skin) to lighten areas of darkened skin caused by different conditions (e.g., sun exposure, skin damage, pregnancy, medications or age). It should not be used by people who are allergic to hydroquinone or who are taking medicines that make their skin more sensitive to light. Hydroquinone is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or children. It should be used with caution in those who have previously had cancer. Side effects include skin reactions such as redness, dryness, cracked skin, burning, stinging, peeling, itching, increased sensitivity to sunlight, sunburn, blisters and scarring. It may cause skin discolouration (i.e., blue or black discolouration or white patches or spots) that, in some cases, can be disfiguring. In laboratory animals, it has been associated with cancer after long-term exposure.
Sildenafil 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. Desmethyl carbodenafil and dithiodesmethyl carbodenafil, and Hydroxythiohomosildenafil are unauthorized substances that are similar to sildenafil and may pose similar health risks.
Tretinoin in topical format (applied to the skin) is a prescription drug used to treat acne. Topical tretinoin should not be used during pregnancy as it has been associated with birth defects. It should also not be used by those who are breastfeeding or by children under 12 years old, or by individuals who have inflamed or irritated skin, have a previous skin cancer or undiagnosed skin lesions, who are taking medicines that make their skin more sensitive to light, or who have an allergy to tretinoin. Tretinoin may cause pain, irritation, itchiness, redness, or swelling at the site of application. It may damage skin, change skin colour, and increase sensitivity to sunlight or tanning beds, causing sunburns. Using tretinoin in combination with hydroquinone may increase some of the side effects of tretinoin.
Details
Media and public enquiries
Media enquiries
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca
Public enquiries
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709
info@hc-sc.gc.ca