OTTAWA, Jan. 2, 2013 /CNW/ -
The issue:
Four unauthorized natural health products have been removed from sale as they may pose serious risks to the health of Canadians. The "ExtenZe" products (shown below) are promoted as sexual enhancement products and contain ingredients that legally require they be sold with a prescription in Canada.
The products were being sold at the following locations: www.Lovedreamer.com, 2583 Yonge St., Toronto, and at 65 Martin Ross Ave., Downsview, Ont. It is important to note that these products may have been sold elsewhere on the Canadian market.
Who is affected:
Consumers who have purchased any of these unauthorized "ExtenZe" products: ExtenZe Max Strength Gelcaps, ExtenZe Original Tablets, ExtenZe Natural Female Tablets, and ExtenZe Big Cherry Flavour Liquid.
What consumers should do:
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What Health Canada is doing:
Health Canada is requesting a stop-sale of these products and informing the public of the risks associated with the use of them. Health Canada will continue to monitor the sale of ExtenZe unauthorized products and will take appropriate action should it become aware that any company is continuing to sell unauthorized health products that may pose a risk to Canadians.
Health Canada is working with the Canada Border Services Agency to stop any shipments of unauthorized ExtenZe products from entering Canada.
Background:
The ingredients listed on the labels of these products can cause serious health problems. Three of these unauthorized products list the prescription ingredient pregnenolone and the controlled drug DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). These substances 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.
DHEA should be avoided by individuals with a history of abnormal heart rhythms, blood clotting disorders and liver disease, while 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.
Three of these unauthorized products contain the prescription medication yohimbine (either as yohimbine HCl or as yohimbe extract), which has been associated with anxiety, dizziness, increased blood pressure, fast heart rate and may result in serious adverse reactions, particularly in people with high blood pressure, or heart, kidney or liver disease.
If you have taken products containing these ingredients without the supervision of a health care practitioner or without a prescription, you may face additional risks. The treatment might not be appropriate and you may miss the opportunity to obtain proper medical treatment. You may also put yourself at risk for drug interactions, or harmful side-effects.
Consumers should be aware that there may be authorized alternatives for similar products in Canada that would be labelled in English and French. The names of unauthorized products listed above should not be confused with any authorized products with similar names found on the Canadian market.
For more information:
Consumers and health professionals wanting more information about this advisory from Health Canada can contact the Public Enquiries Line at 613-957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.
Media enquiries related to this Advisory should be directed to Health Canada Media Relations at 613-957-2983.
How to report side effects to health products to Health Canada:
- 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.
Related Health Canada Web content:
- Advisory (August 19, 2010) - Unauthorized ExtenZe Sexual Enhancement Supplements May Pose Health Risks
- Advisory (May 26, 2010) - Unauthorized Health Products Seized at YVS (Your Vitamin Store) in Burnaby, B.C.
- Advisory (September 3, 2008) - Unauthorized Health Products Found on the Canadian Market
Stay connected with Health Canada and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using social media tools.
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PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2013/01/02/20130102_C3800_DOC_EN_22254.pdf
SOURCE: Health Canada
Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983
Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709
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