OTTAWA,
ON, April 26, 2024 /CNW/ -
Summary
- Product: Counterfeit Viagra, 100 mg sildenafil
tablets
- Issue: Health products - Product safety,
Unauthorized product
- What to do: Immediately stop using and safely
dispose of this product. Consult your health care provider if
you have taken this product and have health concerns. Only buy your
prescription drugs from licensed pharmacies. Read product
labels to verify that health products have been authorized for sale
by Health Canada.
Affected Products
Counterfeit Viagra, 100 mg
sildenafil tablets
Issue
Health Canada
has seized counterfeit Viagra from a Jug City store in Scarborough, Ontario (96 Dearham Wood). This
is in addition to several other unauthorised sexual
enhancement products seized from the same store.
The counterfeit Viagra was sold in individual blister packs with
no other packaging. Authorized Viagra is usually sold with an outer
carton and a leaflet outlining the directions for use. Other
indicators that the product is fake include an expiry date in an
incorrect format ("EXP032 025") and no lot number printed on the
blister pack.
Counterfeit drugs are made to look like authentic products,
but they are not the same and they may not contain the drug at all.
They can pose serious health risks if they contain a higher
dosage than shown on the label, and could contain contaminants and
hidden ingredients. Unlike authorized and authentic drug products,
counterfeit drugs have not been assessed by Health Canada for
safety, effectiveness, and quality. Selling counterfeit health
products is illegal.
Health Canada has confirmed
with the authorized manufacturer of Viagra that the seized product
is counterfeit. Like authentic Viagra, the seized product is
labelled to contain the prescription drug sildenafil. Sildenafil
should be used only under the supervision of a health care
professional. It should not be used by individuals taking any kind
of nitrate drug (e.g., nitroglycerin) 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 include headache,
facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and
hearing loss.
Health Canada reminds consumers
that the best way to make sure their prescription drugs are
authentic is to buy them from a licensed pharmacy. Moreover,
prescription drugs should be taken only under the advice and
supervision of a health care professional because they are used to
treat specific health conditions and may cause serious side
effects. Prescription drugs can only be legally sold to consumers
in Canada with a prescription and
cannot be sold in convenience stores.
For more information regarding Health Canada's approach to
counterfeit health products, please consult Health Canada's Policy
on Counterfeit Health Products.
What you should do
- Immediately stop using and safely dispose of this
product. Consult your health care provider if you have taken this
product and have health concerns. Only buy your prescription drugs
from licensed pharmacies.
- Buy only authorized health products. Read product labels to
verify that health products have been authorized for sale by Health
Canada. Authorized health products have an eight-digit Drug
Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN) or
Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM). 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 any health product-related side
effects or complaints to Health Canada.
Également disponible en français
SOURCE Health Canada (HC)