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News & Announcements

2010 | 2009 | 2008

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Health Professional Communication
August 31, 2010

Droperidol Injection USP - Association with Severe Arrhythmia  - Sandoz Canada Inc.

Droperidol Injection USP is associated with severe arrhythmia and the Canadian Monograph of this product has been updated to reflect this risk.

Health Professional Communication

Notice to Hospitals
August 31, 2010

Delivery of Topical Hemostatic Agents Using Spray Devices - Association with Air/Gas Embolism

Cases of air embolism have been reported with inappropriate use of spray devices and pressurized gas to apply topical hemostatic agents.

Notice to Hospitals

Information Update
August 25, 2010

Important Diabetes Information: GlucaGen Hypokit being Recalled in Canada
Health Canada is informing Canadians that Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. has agreed to voluntarily recall two lots (YW60335 and YW60351) of their product, GlucaGen Hypokit (DIN 02333627) currently available on the Canadian market.

Information Update

Health Professional and Public Communication
August 24, 2010

AVASTIN (bevacizumab) - Association with Allergic Reactions - Hoffmann-La Roche Limited

A review of available safety information found that serious allergic reactions have been reported in up to 5% of patients from clinical studies for cancer. The Canadian Product Monograph for AVASTIN has been updated to include this new safety information.

Health Professional Communication

Public Communication

Public Communication
August 24, 2010

Stander (Tilt Standing Frame) - Safety Warning Label Addition - Rehabilitation Centre for Children

The Rehabilitation Centre for Children issued a recall letter to notify customers that supplemental warning labels have been developed for placement on the Tilt Standing Frame to remind users that all safety straps have to be in place before lifting a patient in a vertical position.

Public Communication

Public Advisory
August 19, 2010

Unauthorized ExtenZe Sexual Enhancement Supplements May Pose Health Risks

Health Canada has seized the unauthorized sexual enhancement supplements “Male Enhancement ExtenZe” and “Women ExtenZe” imported and sold by the Happy Paradise Adult Store in Burnaby, British Columbia. The labels of these products list ingredients that legally require that they be sold with a prescription. Side effects may require monitoring by a health care practitioner.

Public Advisory 

Public Advisory
August 19, 2010

Unauthorized Health Product: “SeXXX DRIVE” May Pose Serious Health Risks

An unauthorized health product, “SeXXX DRIVE”, promoted as a herbal supplement to enhance male sexual performance, was tested by Health Canada and found to contain undeclared “hydroxyhomosildenafil”, a substance similar to the prescription medication sildenafil that may pose serious and potentially life-threatening health risks, particularly to people with heart problems. Prescription medications should only be taken under the supervision of healthcare practitioners.

Public Advisory

Health Professional and Hospital Communication
August 18, 2010

Adrenalin (epinephrine chloride 1:1000) Intended for Topical Use - Risk of Inadvertent Injection - Erfa Canada Inc.

Inadvertent injection of topical Adrenalin due to similarity of its packaging to injectable use vials can lead to severe adverse events.

Health Professional Communication

Notice to Hospitals

Public Advisory
August 17, 2010

“Fulda Unitang Herbs Sleep Plus”:  Unauthorized Herbal Sleep Aid May Pose Health Risks

“Fulda Unitang Herbs Sleep Plus”, an unauthorized product promoted as an herbal sleep aid, has been found to contain high levels of the undeclared drug estazolam and may pose serious health risks to consumers. Estazolam is a prescription sedative that can impair mental alertness; it can also be habit-forming and should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.

Public Advisory

Foreign Product Alerts
August 03, 2010

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the following foreign health product(s) due to concerns about possible adverse reactions.
[> More]

Health Professional and Public Communication
August 03, 2010

RELISTOR (methylnaltrexone bromide) Subcutaneous Injection - Association with gastrointestinal perforation - Wyeth Canada

Patients with advanced illness being treated with RELISTOR may be at increased risk of gastrointestinal perforation.

Health Professional Communication

Public Communication

Health Professional Communication
August 03, 2010

RotaTeq - Presence of Porcine Circovirus (PCV) DNA - Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.

Using highly sensitive assays, low levels of DNA from PCV1 and PCV2 were detected in RotaTeq. There is no evidence that these findings pose a safety risk to infants. The benefits of the vaccines outweigh the theoretical risks.

Health Professional Communication

Health Professional Communication
August 03, 2010

Rotarix - Presence of Porcine Circovirus Type 1 (PCV-1) - GlaxoSmithKline Inc.

GlaxoSmithKline Inc. has identified the presence of material from porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV-1) in its Rotarix vaccine. PCV-1 is a virus commonly found in pigs and pork products and is not known to cause illness in humans or any other animals. The benefit/risk profile of the vaccine remains unchanged to date.

Health Professional Communication