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Foreign product alert

Foreign Product Alert: DHZC-2 Tablet, JC Gold, Kopi Jantan Tradisional Natural Herbs Coffee, Love4Long, Natural Eruption, One More Knight 1750, Snake Powder Capsules, Tu Cho Pan Chi Pain

Starting date:
November 2, 2016
Type of communication:
Foreign Product Alert (FPA)
Subcategory:
Natural health products
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Issue:
Important Safety Information, Unauthorized products
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-60840

Issue

These foreign health products have been found by regulators in other countries to contain undeclared drug ingredients or heavy metals.

The products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace but it is possible they may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Unauthorized Health Products
Product Name(s) Hazard(s) Identified Source of Alert Images
Unauthorized Sexual Enhancement Products
One More Knight 1750 Undeclared tadalafil and dapoxetine United States Food and Drug Administration
ra-60840-01_s_t_4_20161101-175249_15_en.jpg
Love4Long Undeclared  sildenafil United States Food and Drug Administration
ra-60840-02_s_t_4_20161101-175558_17_en.jpg
Unauthorized Weight Loss Products
Natural Eruption Undeclared  sibutramine United States Food and Drug Administration
ra-60840-03_s_t_4_20161101-175649_18_en.jpg
Other Unauthorized Products
Kopi Jantan Tradisional Natural Herbs Coffee Undeclared  desmethyl carbodenafil United States Food and Drug Administration
ra-60840-04_s_t_4_20161101-175914_19_en.jpg
DHZC-2 Tablet Elevated levels of lead United States Food and Drug Administration
ra-60840-05_s_t_4_20161101-175954_16_en.jpg
Snake Powder Capsules Undeclared dexamethasone, chloramphenicol, chlorpheniramine, ibuprofen, and tetracycline Singapore Health Sciences Authority
ra-60840-06_s_t_4_20161101-180032_17_en.jpg
JC Gold Undeclared dexamethasone, dexchlorpheniramine, and frusemide (furosemide) Singapore Health Sciences Authority
ra-60840-07_s_t_4_20161101-180109_20_en.jpg
Tu Cho Pan Chi Pain Undeclared dexamethasone, chlorpheniramine, and frusemide (furosemide) Singapore Health Sciences Authority
ra-60840-08_s_t_4_20161101-180148_20_en.jpg

 

What you should do

  • Contact Health Canada at 1-800-267-9675 or by completing an online complaint form if you find a product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.
  • Consult a healthcare professional if you have health concerns related to the use of any 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), Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM).

Background

Prescription drugs should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Chloramphenicol is a prescription antibiotic drug.  Side effects include abdominal pain, allergic reactions, and bone marrow failure (aplastic anemia).

Chlorpheniramine is a non-prescription antihistamine drug. Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and blurred vision.

Dapoxetine is a prescription drug used to treat premature ejaculation and is not authorized for sale in Canada. Side effects include seizures, changes in blood pressure, blurred vision, dizziness, headache and nausea.

Desmethyl carbodenafil 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 (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 side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

Dexamethasone is a steroidal prescription drug used to treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and allergic reactions.  Side effects include irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, stomach ulcer, blood disorders, skin, muscle and bone damage, and nervous system disorders.  Consult with your healthcare professional prior to stopping use, as sudden discontinuation of dexamethasone may cause symptoms of withdrawal.

Dexchlorpheniramine is a non-prescription antihistamine drug. Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and blurred vision.

Furosemide (Frusemide) is a diuretic (water pill) prescription drug used to remove excess fluid from the body. Side effects include changes in electrolytes (specifically potassium), muscle cramps, dizziness, low blood pressure, headache and nausea.

Ibuprofen is an ingredient used in prescription and non-prescription drugs. It is in the family known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and is used to treat pain, fever and inflammation. Side effects include changes in blood pressure, gastrointestinal disorders (with or without bleeding), anemia, kidney failure and reduced blood clotting ability.

Lead is a heavy metal that poses serious health risks because it may accumulate in vital organs of the body. Children are most susceptible to the toxic effects of heavy metals. The toxic effects of lead include abdominal pain, anemia, changes in blood pressure, reproductive disorders such as miscarriage, weakness, concentration problems, weight loss, insomnia, dizziness, and kidney and brain damage.

Sibutramine was previously used to treat obesity but is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because of its association with an increased risk of cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack and stroke. Other side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, dry mouth, difficulty sleeping and constipation.

Sildenafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction.  Sildenafil 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 side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

Tadalafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction.  Tadalafil 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 side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

Tetracycline is a prescription antibiotic drug. Side effects include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, light-headedness, dizziness, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Other side effects include red rash on sun-exposed skin, and liver and kidney injury. Tetracycline is also associated with permanent teeth discolouration and delayed bone growth in young children.

Report health or safety concerns

To report a side effect to a health product to Health Canada:

  • Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
  • Visit Health Canada's Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax

As of November 1, 2016 no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of these products have been reported to Health Canada.

Images

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