Foreign Product Alert
2007-03
January 5, 2007
For immediate release
Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the following product listed in the table below due to concerns about possible side-effects. More info
Kang Da
| Date of alert |
January 5, 2007 |
| Source of Alert |
New Zealand's Ministry of Health Medicines Safety Authority, Medsafe |
| Product Name |
One product is labelled as Kang Da and four products are unlabelled. |
| Manufacturer / Place of Origin |
Unknown / China |
| Product Description |
Kang Da is marketed as a sexual enhancement and erectile dysfunction product and comes in a package of two red capsules in a gold-foil blister.
The four unlabelled products come in various forms:
- four red/brown tablets marked “800mg” in a small plastic resealable zip-lock bag;
- bright green capsules in a small plastic zip-lock bag;
- an orange/black capsule in a clear plastic pack with red dots, and
- cream coloured capsules (one or two) in an orange, blue and clear plastic pack.
|
| Reason for Warning |
On July 21, 2006, the New Zealand Ministry of Health issued a press release on Kang Da and four unlabelled products because these herbal products were adulterated with sildenafil (the generic name for Viagra), which is a prescription medication used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil should only be taken under the guidance of a health care professional. |
| Possible Side-Effects |
Use of sildenafil may lead to serious health risks, especially for patients with existing medical conditions such as heart problems, who are taking heart medications, or who may be at risk for strokes.
Sildenafil has also been associated with serious side-effects including sudden vision loss, penile tissue damage and urinary tract infection.
|
-30-
Media Inquiries:
Alastair Sinclair
Health Canada
(613) 947-1803
For more details on these Foreign Product Alerts, please visit the Health Canada Web site.
This product is not authorized for sale in Canada and has not been found in the Canadian marketplace. However, it is possible this product could be purchased by Canadians travelling abroad or has been brought into Canada through personal importation by travellers or purchased over the Internet.
Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.
Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.
Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed in the table in the Canadian marketplace.
For more information about the information contained in this advisory, please contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.
As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.
|
