Advisory - Unauthorized products seized from Herc's Nutrition in Brampton because they may pose serious risks to health

OTTAWA, March 14, 2016 /CNW/ -

The 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.

Products affected:

Product	Ingredient
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

Who is affected:

Consumers who have bought or used any of the affected products.

What consumers 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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SOURCE Health Canada

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2016/03/14/20160314_C3697_PDF_EN_642443.pdf

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