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Public advisory

Multiple unauthorized "poppers" and sexual enhancement products seized from Scarborough and Etobicoke adult stores may pose serious health risks

Starting date:
August 17, 2017
Type of communication:
Advisory
Subcategory:
Drugs, Natural health products
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Issue:
Unauthorized products
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-63738

Update – August 17, 2017

This advisory has been updated to reflect additional unauthorized products seized from these retailers.

Original Advisory – June 23, 2017

Issue

Health Canada is advising Canadians that multiple unauthorized health products seized from two adult stores in Scarborough and Etobicoke, ON, may pose serious risks to health. Products seized include “poppers” and products promoted for sexual enhancement.

What you should do

  • Stop using these products. Consult with your health care professional if you have used any of these products and have health concerns.
  • 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 adverse events to health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345, or by reporting online, by mail or by fax.
  • Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1-800-267-9675, or complete an online complaint form.

Who is affected

• Consumers who have bought or used any of these products

Affected products

The following unauthorized products are either labelled to contain or have been tested and found to contain the listed ingredients.

Retailer Products Ingredient(s)
Mostly Adult Video Store
2832 Markham Rd Scarborough, ON
  • Amsterdam 10 mL
  • Super Rush 9 mL
  • Blue Boy 30 mL
  • Gold Rush Original 10 mL
  • Jungle Juice Platinum 10 mL
  • Jungle Juice Platinum 30 mL
  • Jungle Juice Plus 10 mL
  • Rush 30 mL
  • Rush 9 mL
Isobutyl nitrite
  • Super Panther 7K
  • Triple Green
  • Passion Classic
  • Spanish Fly Sex Liquid Zesty Cola
  • Spanish Fly Sex Liquid Hot Cherry
  • Spanish Fly Sex Liquid Wild Strawberry
  • Spanish Fly Sex Liquid Stimulating Coffee
Yohimbe or corynanthe yohimbe bark extract
  • ExTenze
DHEA, pregnenolone and yohimbe extract (bark)
  • Rhino 8 Platinum 8000

Sildenafil (identified by United States Food and Drug Administration testing)

  • Rhino
Aminotadalafil (added August 17, 2017)
  • Xzone Gold
Sildenafil (added August 17, 2017)
Wiggles Adult Video
980 The Queensway Etobicoke, ON
  • Brown Bottle 10 mL
  • English Royale 10 mL
  • English Royale 30 mL
  • Gold Rush Original 10 mL
  • Gold Rush Original 30 mL
  • Jungle Juice Gold Label 10 mL
  • Jungle Juice Platinum 10 mL
  • Jungle Juice Platinum 30 mL
  • Pig Sweat 10 mL
  • PowerPlay Formula Leather Eagle 10 mL
  • Real Gold 10 mL
  • Rochfort 10 mL
  • Rush Original 10 mL
Isobutyl nitrite or alkyl nitrite
 
  • 7K
  • Passion Classic
  • Rhino 8 Platinum 8000
  • Spanish Fly Sex Liquid Hot Cherry
  • Spanish Fly Sex Liquid Stimulating Coffee
  • Spanish Fly Sex Liquid Wild Strawberry
  • Spanish Fly Sex Liquid Zesty Cola
  • Super Panther 7K
  • Triple Green
Yohimbe or corynanthe yohimbe bark extract  
 
  • One More Knight 1750
Sildenafil, tadalafil and dapoxetine
 
  • Jaguar 11000

Sildenafil and tadalafil (added August 17, 2017)

 
  • Stamina 7

Sildenafil and thiosildenafil (added August 17, 2017)

 

Background

"Poppers" is a slang term for products that contain alkyl nitrites. Despite being labelled for various uses such as leather cleaners, room odourizers or liquid incense, these products are inhaled or ingested by consumers for recreational purposes. Alkyl nitrites, such as amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite, are prescription drugs and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Products containing alkyl nitrites may pose serious risks, including death, depending on the amount used, how frequently they are used and how long they are used for, as well as the person's health and the other medications they may be taking. Since it is difficult to control how much is inhaled, people can accidentally overdose. Swallowing these products can lead to serious medical complications and may be fatal. People with certain medical conditions (including recent head trauma, bleeding into the head, glaucoma, or heart disease) and those taking certain medications (particularly drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction), and other drugs (such as high blood pressure medications, certain migraine drugs, and high doses of aspirin) or illicit drugs are at particular risk.

Health Canada maintains a list of retail locations across Canada that have been found to be selling "poppers." Canadians can monitor the list for updates in their area.

Dapoxetine is a drug used to treat premature ejaculation and is not authorized for sale in Canada. Side effects include fainting or loss of consciousness, dizziness, changes in blood pressure, blurred vision, seizures, headache, diarrhea and nausea. In particular, dapoxetine should not be used by individuals who have cardiac conditions, liver disease, a history of mania or bipolar disorder, or are taking certain other medications, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antidepressants, and a number of other drugs and herbal products that can interact with dapoxetine.

DHEA is a controlled drug that can cause higher than normal levels of female and male hormones in the body and could increase the risk of prostate, breast, ovarian, and other hormone-sensitive cancers. It should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Potential side effects include serious cardiovascular disease, as well as changes in fertility and sperm production. DHEA should be avoided by individuals with a history of abnormal heart rhythms, blood clotting disorders, liver disease and those who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Pregnenolone is a prescription drug that can cause higher than normal levels of female and male hormones in the body and could increase the risk of prostate, breast, ovarian, and other hormone-sensitive cancers. It should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. In particular, pregnenolone should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, and should be avoided by individuals who suffer from epileptic seizures or who are taking anti-seizure medications.

Sildenafil and tadalafil are prescription drug ingredients. Products containing these ingredients should only be used under the supervision of a health care practitioner. Sildenafil and tadalafil should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (such as nitroglycerine) as they 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 side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision and hearing loss.

Aminotadalafil is an unauthorized substance similar to tadalafil and may pose similar health risks. 

Homosildenafil and thiosildenafil are unauthorized substances similar to sildenafil and may pose similar health risks.

Yohimbine is a prescription drug and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Yohimbine is derived from yohimbe, a bark extract. The use of yohimbine or yohimbe may result in serious adverse reactions, particularly in people with high blood pressure, or heart, kidney or liver disease. Side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, anxiety, dizziness, tremors, headache, nausea and sleep disorders. It should not be used by children, or pregnant or nursing women.

Advisory

Media enquiries

Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

Public enquiries

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

What Health Canada is doing

Health Canada seized the products from the retail locations. Should additional retailers or distributors be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians as necessary.

Images

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