Advisory - Unauthorized eye drops seized from two Richmond, B.C. retailers

OTTAWA, July 16, 2015 /CNW/ -

The issue:

Health Canada is informing Canadians that five brands of unauthorized eye drops (listed in table below) labelled to contain a prescription drug (neostigmine methylsulfate) have been seized from two retailers, Cube Inc. and Magic Queen Cosmetics in Richmond, B.C. (Aberdeen Centre 4151 Hazelbridge Way). These products may pose serious risks to the health of Canadians.

Who is affected:

Canadians who either have used or purchased these products.

What consumers should do:

• Speak to your healthcare practitioner should you have any questions or concerns regarding the use of these products.
• Read the label of the products you buy to verify that they have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality. 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. Products that have been authorized for sale can be found by searching the Drug Product Database and the Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
• Report any adverse events using these products to Health Canada.
• Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free to 1-800-267-9675, or complete an online complaint form.

What Health Canada is doing:

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

Background:

The eye drops seized at retail labelled to contain Neostigmine methylsulfate are promoted to relieve tired and red eyes.

There are no approved eye drops containing neostigmine methylsulfate on the Canadian market. In the past, drugs similar to neostigmine were in use for the treatment of glaucoma. These medications are no longer widely used due to their significant number of potential eye-related side effects including: blurred distance vision, frontal headaches, twitching lids, red injected eyes, cataracts, allergic reactions, iris cysts, retinal detachment, and the potential for causing a specific type of glaucoma attack. In addition, absorption into the nose via the tear duct may cause serious cardiac and respiratory side effects.

Products recalled/affected:

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 of 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 Health Canada Web content:

• Public Advisory (February 3, 2014) – Products containing undeclared prescription drugs removed from Burnaby West Box store
• Information Update (November 30, 2012) - Richmond, B.C. Store (Cube Inc.) Selling Potentially Dangerous Weight Loss Products

Stay connected with Health Canada and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using social media tools.

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SOURCE Health Canada

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2015/07/16/20150716_C6610_PDF_EN_447454.pdf