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Health Canada has seized various unauthorized drugs, including emergency oral contraceptives, medications for erectile dysfunction, as well as antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs, from a store located in Montréal-Nord.
The federal health agency says these medications may pose serious health risks.
The store, Rabais 4Saisons Inc., is located at 5321 Charleroi Street.
The seized drugs are:
After-D.Albendazol.Balaxi – Amoxicilina.Balaxi – Tetraciclina.Black Horse Vital Honey.Caplin Point.Erix et Saad – Ampicilina.
Health Canada is advising anyone who has used these products and has health concerns to consult a licensed health-care professional, such as a doctor or a pharmacist.
“Unauthorized health products have not been approved by Health Canada, so their safety, effectiveness and quality have not been evaluated, and they may pose serious health risks,” the agency said in a news release.
Health Canada also noted that many of the seized health products are not labelled in English and French, as required by Canadian regulations. As a result, important information is missing, particularly regarding usage, dosage and side effects.
Among the seized medications is Albendazol, an antiparasitic drug that is not approved for human use in Canada. It is available by prescription in other countries.
There is also After-D, an emergency contraceptive, whose label indicates the presence of levonorgestrel, an over-the-counter medication used to prevent pregnancy within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
“Unauthorized emergency contraceptives labelled as containing levonorgestrel may not be effective and may not adequately prevent pregnancy,” states Health Canada.
There are approved levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptive products available in Canada.
Antibiotics were also seized because their labels indicated the presence of ampicillin and amoxicillin, which are used to treat certain bacterial infections. These medications should be used only under the supervision of a health-care professional. Ampicillin and amoxicillin can cause severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.
Health Canada is urging people to verify that their health products are properly licensed by checking for an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN). There is also a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) to ensure products are licensed.