A variety of products deemed unsafe by Health Canada have been seized from a Windsor business.
Health Canada has pulled 19 products from the Edge Nutrition store at Tecumseh Rd. E. and Lauzon Pkwy, and issued a warning stating that the products contain ingredients that have not been tested or authorized by the federal government.
According to the alert issued by Health Canada and posted on its website, the products were taken from the business on Friday.
The products are 18 different brands of workout supplements, plus one sexual enhancement product. The brands seized from the Windsor business contain three ingredients deemed unauthorized by Health Canada. and may cause serious health risks.
The first is rauwolfia, a prescription drug used to treat hypertension. People with heart conditions or psychiatric disorders should receive close medical supervision when using it as it can make certain conditions, such as depression, worse. Common side effects include tiredness, sleepiness, depression, nasal obstruction and breathlessness.
Another ingredient identified by Health Canada is yohimbine, a prescription drug that 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.
The third is a standardized form of L-dopa, which is combined with other drugs to treat patients with Parkinson's Disease. Side effects requiring medical attention include: uncontrollable movements of the face, eyelids, mouth, tongue, neck, arms, hands, or legs; severe or persistent nausea or vomiting; an irregular heartbeat or fluttering in the chest; feeling lightheaded when standing quickly; or unusual changes in mood or behaviour.
None of these products should be used by children, or pregnant and nursing women, says Health Canada.
Unauthorized products are defined by Health Canada as either containing ingredients not listed on the label, or the label may disclose a dangerous ingredient or a dangerous combination of some ingredients.
Health Canada is urging people who have recently purchased products at Edge Nutrition to look at the complete information in the alert. Photos of the affected products are included in the alert.
If you have any of these products, stop using them. Contact your physician or health care professional with any questions or concerns.