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Lightning Rod: A New Potentially Dangerous IT Erotics' Product Removed from Sale
- Starting date:
- July 6, 2012
- Posting date:
- July 6, 2012
- Type of communication:
- Advisory
- Subcategory:
- Drugs
- Source of recall:
- Health Canada
- Issue:
- Product Safety, Undeclared Substance
- Audience:
- General Public, Healthcare Professionals
- Identification number:
- RA-15016
Issue
"Lightning Rod," an unauthorized sexual enhancement product, has been removed from sale from various retail outlets in Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan after testing by Health Canada identified a hidden ingredient (hydroxythiohomosildenafil) that may pose serious risks to the health of Canadians.
Who is affected
Canadians using "Lightning Rod," particularly individuals with heart problems, those at risk of stroke or those taking any nitrate drug (e.g. nitroglycerine).
"Lightning Rod" was distributed by the company IT Erotics to Hastings Novelty in Vancouver, B.C.; Ultimate Amore in Burnaby, B.C.; O! Behave in Surrey, B.C.; Source Adult in Coquitlam, B.C., Delta, B.C., Maple Ridge B.C. and Vancouver B.C.; Source Adult in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Concourse Pharmacy in North York (Willowdale), Ontario. As of July 4, 2012, Health Canada had not received any adverse reactions reports associated with the use of this product.
What purchasers should do
- Speak to your healthcare practitioner about any questions or concerns regarding this product.
- Contact the company, IT Erotics, at 604-540-4238 or 1-888-385-1188 for information on the recall of this product.
- Report any adverse reaction you suspect may be related to this product to Health Canada (see below).
- Read the label of the products you buy to verify that they have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.
What Health Canada is doing
Health Canada is monitoring the voluntary recall by IT Erotics and has requested that it stop selling unauthorized health products. In the past, IT Erotics has recalled several potentially dangerous dietary supplement products in addition to other potentially dangerous sexual enhancement products that contained hidden ingredient.
As this is not the first time that Health Canada has communicated on products recalled by IT Erotics (see Related AWRs), Health Canada would like to remind Canadian retailers that the sale of health products are governed by the Food and Drugs Act and its Regulations and the sale of unauthorized products is against the law. Retailers found selling unapproved products may have them seized by Health Canada or by various law enforcement authorities.
Background
Health products that have been authorized for sale by Health Canada will have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) or a Natural Product Number (NPN) on the label. Some natural health products may have an Exemption Number (EN), which indicates that the product is legally available for sale while Health Canada is reviewing its application for licensing.
Hydroxythiohomosildenafil is an unauthorized substance similar to sildenafil.
Sildenafil is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and should only be used under the supervision of a health care practitioner. Sildenafil should never be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (e.g. nitroglycerine) as it can cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure. People with heart problems including high blood pressure, a history of heart attack, stroke, abnormal heart beat or chest pain are at higher risk of cardiovascular side effects if they engage in sexual activity, including if they take sildenafil to help them achieve an erection. Other possible side-effects of using sildenafil include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision and hearing loss.
How to report side effects to health products to Health Canada
- Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
- Visit MedEffect Canada's web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax
Related AWRs
Media enquiries
Health Canada
613-957-2983
Public enquiries
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709
Images
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