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Unauthorized products seized from Herc's Nutrition in Brampton because they may pose serious risks to health
- Starting date:
- March 14, 2016
- Posting date:
- March 14, 2016
- Type of communication:
- Advisory
- Subcategory:
- Natural health products
- Source of recall:
- Health Canada
- Issue:
- Important Safety Information, Unauthorized products
- Audience:
- General Public
- Identification number:
- RA-57540
Issue
What you should do
Who is affected
Background
Report health or safety concerns
Media enquiries
Public enquiries
What Health Canada is doing
Images
Issue
Health Canada seized six unauthorized products being promoted as dietary supplements (see table below) from Herc's Nutrition, 175 Fletchers Creek Blvd., Brampton, Ontario. These products may pose serious risks to the health of Canadians.
| Product | Ingredient | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| RapidFire | Yohimbine and ephedra |
|
| Black Magic | Yohimbine and ephedra |
|
| China White | Yohimbine and ephedra |
|
| Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen | Yohimbine |
|
| Psychotic | Yohimbine |
|
| Lipo-Cuts | Yohimbe and ephedra |
|
What you should do
- Consult with your doctor if you have used these products and have health concerns.
- Read the product label to verify that health products have been authorized for sale by Health Canada have an eight-digit DIN, a DIN-HM or a NPN.
- Verify if products that have been authorized for sale by searching the Drug Product Database and the Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
- Report any adverse events 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
Consumers who have bought or used any of the affected products.
Background
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, 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, pregnant or nursing women.
Use of products containing ephedra/ephedrine is not recommended in people with heart problems, hypertension, thyroid disease, diabetes, enlarged prostate, anxiety and restlessness, glaucoma (serious eye disorder) and pheochromocytoma (serious gland disorder) because ephedra/ephedrine aggravates these conditions. Consumers should use ephedra/ephedrine products only for the approved indication of nasal decongestion, and should not exceed the maximum allowable dosage described in the ephedra and ephedrine/pseudoephedrine labelling standards, unless this has been recommended by -- and you are under the care of -- a health care practitioner. These products should also be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.
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.
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 location. Should additional retailers or distributors of these products be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians.
Images
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