Health Canada has confiscated multiple unauthorized drugs, including emergency oral contraceptives, medications for erectile dysfunction, antibiotics, and antiparasitic drugs, from a Montréal-Nord store. The federal health agency has raised concerns about potential serious health risks associated with these medications.
The store in question, Rabais 4Saisons Inc., situated at 5321 Charleroi Street, was found to have the following seized drugs: After-D, Albendazol, Balaxi – Amoxicilina, Balaxi – Tetraciclina, Black Horse Vital Honey, Caplin Point, and Erix et Saad – Ampicilina.
Health Canada is advising individuals who have used these products and are worried about their health to seek advice from a licensed health-care professional, such as a doctor or pharmacist. The agency emphasized that unauthorized health products lack Health Canada’s approval, meaning their safety, effectiveness, and quality have not been evaluated, potentially leading to serious health risks.
Furthermore, Health Canada highlighted that many of the confiscated health products lack the required labeling in both English and French, as mandated by Canadian regulations. This omission results in crucial information being absent, particularly regarding usage instructions, dosage, and potential side effects.
Among the seized medications is Albendazol, an antiparasitic drug not authorized for human use in Canada but available by prescription in other countries. Another product, After-D, an emergency contraceptive containing levonorgestrel, is said to be potentially ineffective in preventing pregnancy, as unauthorized emergency contraceptives with levonorgestrel may not provide adequate protection. Health Canada recommends using approved levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptive products available in Canada.
Additionally, antibiotics were confiscated due to their labels indicating the presence of ampicillin and amoxicillin, which are used to treat specific bacterial infections and should only be used under professional supervision to avoid severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.
To ensure the legitimacy of health products, Health Canada urges individuals to verify their products’ proper licensing by checking for an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), as well as a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) for licensed products.