A Richmond distribution company has sparked a national, serious health warning over drugs related to breast cancer and infertility.
Health Canada issued the advisory on Tuesday after it seized unauthorized products from EPCA Shipping Inc. at 1115-11871 Horseshoe Way in the Ironwood area of south Richmond.
The government agency said the business is Canadian distribution centre for Extremepeptides.com, which distributes drugs promoted to treat a wide variety of medical conditions.
“The products are promoted to treat cancer, infertility, respiratory diseases, enlarged thyroid and erectile dysfunction and are labelled to contain various prescription drugs that may pose serious risks to the health of Canadians,” the health agency said in a written warning on its website.
Health Canada says the seized drugs include:
Anastrozole: used to treat postmenopausal women with breast cancer;
Clenbuterol: a veterinary drug used to treat respiratory diseases in horses;
Clomiphene: used in women to treat some types of infertility;
Ketotifen: an add-on medication in the treatment of chronic asthma in children;
Letrozole: used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women;
Sildenafil: used to treat erectile dysfunction;
T3 (also known as Liothyronine): used to treat hypothyroidism or enlarged thyroid gland;
Tadalafil: used to treat erectile dysfunction;
Tamoxifen: used to treat breast cancer;
Toremifene: used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
The agency is now working with the Canada Border Services Agency to prevent the further importation of the products in question.
Health Canada is advising anyone in possession of the drugs to stop using them immediately and contact their doctor or health professional if they have concerns.
One of the drugs, Anastrozole, should be used only under the supervision of a doctor experienced in the use of cancer drugs and should not be used by pregnant or breast-feeding women. Serious side-effects include severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), allergic reaction with swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat that may cause difficulty swallowing and/or breathing, angina, liver inflammation (hepatitis), and increased blood calcium levels.
Public enquiries can be made by calling Health Canada on 613-957-2991 or 1-866-225-0709 or by clicking here.
