Advisory - Unauthorized products seized from EPCA Shipping Inc. in Richmond, British Columbia, may pose serious health risks

Advisory - Unauthorized products seized from EPCA Shipping Inc. in Richmond, British Columbia, may pose serious health risks (CNW Group/Health Canada)

OTTAWA, March 21, 2017 /CNW/ - Issue
Health Canada is advising Canadians that it has seized several unauthorized health products from EPCA Shipping Inc. at 1115-11871 Horseshoe Way, Richmond BC (see list below). The products are promoted to treat cancer, infertility, respiratory diseases, enlarged thyroid and erectile dysfunction, and are labelled to contain various prescription drugs that may pose serious risks to the health of Canadians. EPCA Shipping Inc. is the Canadian distribution centre for www.extremepeptides.com.

Who is affected

• Consumers who have bought or used these products.

Affected products

• Anastrozole
• Clenbuterol
• Clomiphene
• Ketotifen
• Letrozole
• Sildenafil
• T3 (Liothyorine)
• Tadalafil
• Tamoxifen
• Toremifene

What consumers should do

• Stop using these products. Consult with your health care professional if you have used these products and have health concerns.
• Read product labels to verify that health products have been authorized for sale by Health Canada. Authorized health products have an eight-digit DIN, DIN-HM or NPN. You can also check whether products have been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada's Drug Product Database and Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
• Report adverse events to health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1‑866‑234‑2345, or by reporting online, by mail or by fax.
• Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1‑800‑267‑9675, or complete an online complaint form.

What Health Canada is doing
Health Canada seized the products from the distributor, and is working with Canada Border Services Agency to prevent further importation of these products. Should additional distributors be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians as necessary.

Background
Anastrozole is a prescription drug used to treat postmenopausal women with breast cancer. It should be used only under the supervision of a doctor experienced in the use of cancer drugs. Anastrozole should not be used by pregnant or breast-feeding women, and should not be used by premenopausal women or children. Serious side effects include severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), allergic reaction with swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat that may cause difficulty swallowing and/or breathing, angina, liver inflammation (hepatitis), and increased blood calcium levels.

Clenbuterol is a veterinary drug used to treat respiratory diseases in horses. It is not authorized for human use in Canada. Serious side effects include seizure, heart attack, psychosis, or damage to skeletal muscle. Other side effects include irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, tremors, nervousness, nausea, increased blood sugar, headache, and dizziness.

Clomiphene is a prescription drug used in women to treat some types of infertility. It should be used only under the supervision of a doctor experienced in the management of gynecologic or endocrine disorders. Clomiphene should not be used during pregnancy. It should not be used in patients with current or past liver disease, with unusual menstrual bleeding with an unknown cause, with a type of cancer that is made worse by hormones, or in patients with an ovarian cyst (except those with polycystic ovary syndrome). Serious side effects include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (over-stimulation of the ovaries), allergic reaction, blurry vision or spots or flashes in front of the eyes, stroke, liver problems, sudden and severe headaches, mental illness such as psychosis, and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Other side effects include hot flashes, abdominal discomfort (distension, bloating, or pain), and ovarian enlargement.

Ketotifen is a prescription drug used as an add-on medication in the treatment of chronic asthma in children. It should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Ketotifen should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Serious side effects include convulsions, bladder inflammation, increased liver enzymes, liver inflammation (hepatitis), and severe skin reactions. Other side effects include sedation, weight gain, rash, irritability, nervousness, mouth dryness, dizziness, nausea, and headaches.

Letrozole is a prescription drug used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Letrozole should not be used by premenopausal, pregnant or breast-feeding women, or children or adolescents under 18 years of age. It reduces blood estrogen levels, which may reduce bone mineral density and lead to bone loss (osteoporosis) and fractures. Other serious side effects include pain in the muscles, bones and joints, joint stiffness, depression, chest pain or heart attack, stroke, blood clots, swelling, allergic reaction, low level of white blood cells, cataracts, hepatitis, and severe skin disorders.

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

T3 (also known as Liothyronine) is a prescription drug used to treat hypothyroidism or enlarged thyroid gland. It should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Liothyronine should not be used in patients with uncorrected adrenal gland underactivity or in patients who have had a heart attack. It should not be used to treat obesity or for weight loss. At normal doses it does not reduce body weight and at higher doses it can produce serious side effects, such as heart failure or shock. Side effects include headache, excessive sweating, fatigue, increased appetite, fever, nervousness, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, diarrhea, and menstrual irregularities.

Tadalafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. It should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (such as 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.

Tamoxifen is a prescription drug used to treat breast cancer. It should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Tamoxifen should not be used by pregnant women. Serious side effects include uterine cancers, stroke, blood clots, cataracts or damage to the retina of the eye, muscle pain, bone pain, increased blood calcium, and severe skin rashes or allergic reactions. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, fluid retention, vaginal bleeding, hot flashes, anemia, uterine fibroids (noncancerous growths), bald spots, and fatty liver.

Toremifene is a prescription drug used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is not authorized for use in Canada. Common side effects include hot flashes, sweating, nausea, dizziness, swelling, pain, and vomiting. Serious side effects include abnormal cell growth in the uterine lining. Other side effects include vaginal bleeding, chest pain, fatigue, back pain, headache, skin discoloration, weight gain, anorexia, insomnia, constipation, difficulty breathing, weakness, tremors, vertigo, itching, scarring or clouding of the eye, and blood clots.

For more information
Stay connected with Health Canada and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using social media tools.

To learn more about natural health products and other self-care products, visit Canada.ca/selfcare-products.

To learn more about purchasing drugs online, visit Canada.ca.

SOURCE Health Canada

For further information: Media Enquiries: Health Canada, [phone]; Public Enquiries: [phone], 1-866 225-0709