An erectile dysfunction treatment sold as Libidus contains an undeclared drug and may pose serious health risks, Health Canada warned Thursday.
The unauthorized drug, which is manufactured by Yurtland Natural Health and distributed by NorthRegentRx of Winnipeg, was found to contain the undeclared prescription drug sildenafil, the generic name for the drug Viagra.
Health Canada said sildenafil should only be used under the supervision of a health-care professional and could pose a risk to patients with pre-existing medical conditions, those taking heart medications or those at risk for strokes.
Use of the drug could cause serious cardiovascular side-effects such as heart attack, stroke, low blood pressure, chest pain, and cardiac death in patients with heart disease. Patients taking any type of nitrate drug, such as nitroglycerin, should not take sildenafil due to the risk of developing potentially life-threatening low blood pressure.
Other possible side-effects include vision loss, seizure, decrease or loss of hearing, headache, dizziness and abdominal pain.
Libidus may be available at retail outlets and over the internet, Health Canada said. Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase.
Health Canada said in a release that it is "taking steps to confirm that the product has been removed from the Canadian market." The manufacturer has been ordered to recall the product.
The health agency also issued a warning for the product in 2006, when it was found to contain the prescription drug vardenafil, the generic name for the erectile dysfunction drug Levitra.
It also warns consumers not to use any unauthorized products promoted for the treatment of erectile dysfunction that are advertised as "all natural," as such products may contain undeclared prescription ingredients that may pose serious health risks.
Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Drug Identification Number for Homeopathic Medicine (DIN-HM) on the label. |
