Health Canada has confiscated a variety of unauthorized medications, including emergency oral contraceptives, drugs for erectile dysfunction, antibiotics, and antiparasitic drugs, from a Montréal-Nord store. The federal health agency has warned that these medications could pose significant health risks. The store in question, Rabais 4Saisons Inc., is situated at 5321 Charleroi Street.
The seized drugs include 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 have health concerns to seek advice from a licensed healthcare professional such as a doctor or pharmacist.
According to Health Canada, unauthorized health products lack approval from the agency, meaning their safety, effectiveness, and quality have not been assessed, potentially leading to serious health issues. Moreover, many of the confiscated products do not comply with Canadian regulations mandating labeling in both English and French, resulting in missing vital information on usage, dosage, and side effects.
Among the seized medications, Albendazol, an antiparasitic drug not authorized for human use in Canada, was found. Another product, After-D, an emergency contraceptive containing levonorgestrel, may not be effective in preventing pregnancy, as indicated by Health Canada. The agency advises that approved levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptives are available in Canada.
Furthermore, antibiotics seized during the operation contained ampicillin and amoxicillin, used to treat specific bacterial infections. Health Canada stresses that these medications should only be used under medical supervision due to the potential severe allergic reactions they can induce. To ensure the legitimacy of health products, Health Canada urges individuals to check for an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), as well as a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) for licensing verification.