Unauthorized Health Products Seized at YVS (Your Vitamin Store) in Burnaby, B.C.

Advisory
2010-84
May 26, 2010
For immediate release

The issue

Unauthorized health products that may pose a serious health risk were seized by Health Canada at YVS (Your Vitamin Store) in Metrotown, Burnaby, British Columbia. The labels indicate the products contain ingredients that legally require the products to be sold by prescription or with specific controls because they are used to treat serious diseases or may have side effects that require monitoring by a health care practitioner.

Who is affected

Canadians who have purchased DHEA, Free Form Carnitine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Hydro Lean, Xtra Lean, Yohimbe Extract, Hemo Rage Black, Lipo 6 Black, Lipo 6 Hers Black or Red Rockets sold at the YVS (Your Vitamin Store) in Metrotown, Burnaby, including over the Internet.

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 has been advised that these unauthorized products will no longer be sold from the YVS (Your Vitamin Store) in Metrotown, Burnaby.

Background

These products contain ingredients that can cause serious health problems. Ephedrine and caffeine, when combined together, may cause serious and possibly fatal adverse effects. Canadians suffering from heart conditions, high blood pressure and diabetes are among those particularly at risk. Side-effects associated with L-Carnitine include nausea, vomiting, abdominal

cramps, diarrhea and seizures. Side-effects associated with yohimbine include anxiety and increased urinary frequency, dizziness, stomach problems, headache, sweating, sleeplessness, tremors, palpitations of the heart and severe high blood pressure.

Canadians who have taken products containing these ingredients without the supervision of a health care practitioner or without a prescription may face additional risks. You may be misdiagnosed, the treatment might not be appropriate to treat your illness and you may miss the opportunity to obtain appropriate medical treatment. You may also put yourself at risk for drug interactions, or harmful side effects.

Regulations administered by Health Canada require that health products containing certain medicinal ingredients be subject to specific controls and/or be prescribed by a health care practitioner because they are used to treat serious diseases or may have side effects that require monitoring by a health care practitioner.

Specific drug ingredients may be subject to additional restrictions as outlined in the Food and Drugs Act and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This may include the need for a prescription from a health care practitioner, the application of specific controls to allow for professional direction and supervision in their use, or the application of additional controls on the sale and storage of the product.

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 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 to us using one of these methods:

• Fax: 1-866-678-6789
• E-mail: CanadaVigilance@hc-sc.gc.ca
• Internet: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
• Mail: Canada Vigilance Program
  Marketed Health Products Directorate
  Ottawa, ON, Address Locator 0701C
  K1A 0K9

Related Health Canada Web Content

• Advisory (May 31, 2010) - Unauthorized Health Product, "West Pharma Therma Lean Fat Burner Energizer", may pose serious health risk
• Advisory (September 3, 2008) - Unauthorized Health Products found on the Canadian Market
• Foreign Product Alert (August 18, 2008) - Soloslim
• Information Update (March 11, 2008) - Health Canada Reminds Canadians not to use Ephedra/Ephedrine Products
• Advisory (May 23, 2006) - Health Canada advises consumers not to use weight loss products containing Ephedrine and Caffeine
• Advisory (April 10, 2006) - Health Canada advises consumers not to use unapproved products containing yohimbine or yohimbe bark including Strauss Energy SIX capsules

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