November/December 2008 - Ontario College of Pharmacists

health canada advisories & notices
Oct 29, 2008
Oct 28, 2008
Oct 28, 2008
Oct 17, 2008
Oct 17, 2008
Oct 15, 2008
Oct 8, 2008
Sept 23, 2008
Sept 22, 2008
Sept 3, 2008
Aug 22, 2008
Aug 22, 2008
Do not use Eros Fire, a product promoted to enhance sexual performance, as this product may pose serious
health risks. The product was found to contain xanthoanthrafil (also known as benzamidenafil), which is not
indicated on the label.
Published retrospective studies have reported that venlafaxine overdosage may be associated with an
increased risk of fatal outcome compared to that observed with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
antidepressants, but lower than that for tricyclic antidepressants.
Health Canada is warning Canadians, especially expectant mothers, not to use two vitamin C products
sold under the brand names New Roots Herbal Vitamin C8 and Vitazan Professional Vitamin C Advanced
Ascorbate. These products were improperly manufactured using vitamin A instead of vitamin C, exposing
consumers to potential risks of adverse events.
Swissmedic warned consumers not to buy or use the product Powertabs because it was found to contain an
unauthorised substance with a structure similar to sildenafil.
Sildenafil is a prescription drug used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and should only be used under
the supervision of a health care practitioner.
The Hong Kong Department of Health warned consumers not to buy or use the product Sweet Energizer
Vitality Candy because it was found to contain an unauthorised substance with a structure similar to tadalafil
(aminotadalafil).
Tadalafil is a prescription drug used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and should only be used under
the supervision of a health care practitioner.
Physio-Control, Incorporated, a division of Medtronic, Incorporated is notifying customers of a recall for
LIFEPAK CR Plus and/or LIFEPAK EXPRESS automated external defibrillators (AED) manufactured between
November 2006 and March 2008. These AEDs contain a specific internal flex cable that may be susceptible
to failure and could cause a short, preventing the AED from powering on. Failure to power on will prevent
delivery of therapy to a patient.
Teleflex Medical has issued a voluntary recall for Weck brand ligating clips including Hem-O-Lok, Horizon,
Hemoclip Traditional and Hemoclip Plus products because holes were detected in the thermoformed tray of
certain sterile packaged units meaning the sterile integrity cannot be guaranteed.
Health Canada is advising the public, especially nursing mothers, about the very rare but serious health risk
to breastfed babies posed by codeine use in mothers. Once ingested, codeine is converted by the body into
morphine. Some people convert codeine into morphine more rapidly and completely than others. The babies
of nursing mothers who rapidly metabolize codeine may be at increased risk for morphine overdose due to
higher-than-expected morphine levels in breast milk.
Health Canada is advising consumers not to use 6 foreign health products due to concerns about possible
side-effects: Dr. Life, Chong Cao Ju Wang, Hanguo shoushen yihao (meiti xing), One Korean Slimmer (Body
Enhancer Brand), Liquimax Complete Nutrition, Multivitamin Formula, ARMA - sin Gang San and New ARMA
- Sin Gang San.
The Hong Kong Department of Health warned consumers not to buy or use Lover Liquid Nutriment Herbal
Supplement and Onyo because they were found to contain undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients. Lover
Liquid Nutriment Herbal Supplement was found to contain sildenafil while Onyo was found to contain
sildenafil, as well as unapproved substances with structures similar to sildenafil and vardenafil. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration warned consumers not to use the product Rose 4 Her because it was found to
contain an undeclared ingredient similar to the prescription drug sildenafil. The product has been voluntarily
recalled by the manufacturer in the U.S.
Health Canada is advising consumers not to use any unauthorized health products sold under the brand
names Life Choice, Healthy Choice, Doctor’s Choice and Your Choice as well as other products without a
brand name. All of these unauthorized health products have the same identifying image on their label.
Health Canada is advising consumers not to use 8 foreign products due to concerns about possible sideeffects.
Natural (Xin Yi Dai) and Lasmi, AA Qu Feng Shu Jin Wan, Energy II, Apisate, Obat Asam Urat and
Asam Urat, Slim 3in1 (Xiao Nan zhi Bao)
Health Canada is warning consumers not to use the two unauthorized natural health products, Life Choice
Ephedrine HCL and Life Choice Kava Kava because they are not approved by Health Canada, and may cause
serious adverse health effects including death.
18 pharmacyconnection • November/December 2008