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Public advisory

Vigofit and Once More: Unauthorized Health Products Seized at Stores in Abbotsford and Surrey, B.C.

Starting date:
June 8, 2010
Posting date:
June 8, 2010
Type of communication:
Advisory
Subcategory:
Natural health products
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Issue:
Undeclared Substance, Unauthorized products, Product Safety
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-110004365

The issue

Health Canada is warning Canadians that the unauthorized health products Vigofit and Once More, which are promoted to enhance male sexual performance, have been seized by Health Canada inspectors from retail stores in Abbotsford and Surrey, British Columbia. These two products contain sildenafil, a prescription medication that may pose serious and potentially life-threatening health risks, particularly to people with heart problems.

Who is affected

Canadians who have purchased the products Once More from Valley Herblex Products in Abbotsford, British Columbia, or Vigofit from Herbalex in Surrey, British Columbia, particularly people with heart problems.

What consumers should do

  • Consult your healthcare practitioner if you have used any of these products and are concerned about your health.
  • Read the labelling of the products you buy to verify that they have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality. Health products that have been authorized for sale by Health Canada will have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label.
  • Report any adverse reaction potentially related to these products to Health Canada (see below).

What Health Canada is doing

Health Canada is working with the Canada Border Services Agency to help stop the future importation of these unauthorized health products into Canada. Health Canada will continue to monitor the stores noted above and will take immediate and appropriate action should they continue to sell unauthorized health products that may pose a risk to Canadians.

Background

Sildenafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction and should be used only under the supervision of a health care practitioner. Products authorized for sale containing sildenafil indicate that it should never be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (such as nitroglycerine) as this combination 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 heart beat. Other side-effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

Products affected

  • Vigofit
  • Once More

For more information

Consumers and health professionals wanting more information about this advisory from Health Canada can contact the Public Enquiries Line at 613-957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.
 
Media enquiries related to this Advisory should be directed to Health Canada Media Relations at 613-957-2983.

How to report side effects to health products

To report a suspected adverse reaction to these or other health products, please contact the Canada Vigilance Program of Health Canada toll-free at 1-866-234-2345, or complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and send it to us using one of these methods:

Related Health Canada Web Content

Media enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983

Public enquiries

613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709

Images

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