Health Canada has completed a safety review of hydrochlorothiazide and has found that prolonged use of the drug could increase a person’s risk for non-melanoma skin cancer.

Hydrochlorothiazide is a prescription drug used to treat high blood pressure and swelling. It is known to make skin more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and sunlight, meaning patients can get sunburned more easily.

Health Canada reviewed the best available evidence on the issue. Findings suggest an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer for patients who have used hydrochlorothiazide for more than three years. However, it is important to note that the studies reviewed had significant limitations. For example, there was a lack of patient data on sun exposure and severity, and duration of high blood pressure. Such data could help clarify the cause of the increased risk.

In light of these findings, Health Canada has concluded that prolonged use of hydrochlorothiazide may be associated with a risk of non-melanoma skin cancer that is at least four times the risk of not using hydrochlorothiazide.

Health Canada is warning Canadians that Ayurvedic products sold by A1 Herbal Ayurvedic Clinic Ltd. may pose serious health risks.

Health Canada inspectors have seized products, ingredients and equipment from A1 Herbal Ayurvedic Clinic Ltd. in Surrey, British Columbia (31-8430, 128 Street), and from an affiliated clinic in Brampton, Ontario (11-351 Parkhurst Square). The seizures came after the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control informed Health Canada of a case of heavy metal toxicity involving a patient who was using products from the Surrey clinic. Laboratory testing identified lead and mercury in the products. Lead and mercury are heavy metals that may pose serious health risks when consumed in excessive amounts. Children, pregnant women and breastfeeding women are most susceptible to the toxic effects of heavy metals.

Following observation of variable burst pressure performance of Polyisoprene Condoms manufactured during 2017, RB conducted an internal investigation and identified that a specific batch (1000356816) of DUREX RealFeel® 20 ct condoms distributed in Canada is not expected to meet the registered burst pressure specification at end of shelf-life. As a cautionary measure, RB Health (Canada) Inc. is initiating a consumer level recall.

Health Canada is warning Canadians that Pace, a shot-sized drink that is being promoted as an alcohol substitute, contains an active ingredient—5-methoxy-2-aminoindane (MEAI)—that is similar in structure to amphetamines and may pose serious health risks. Pace is being sold online by the Diet Alcohol Corporation of the Americas.

While the product is being promoted as a beverage by the company, this product would be regulated as a drug in Canada and would require approval before it could be sold to Canadians. This product has not been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness or quality, and its sale has not been authorized by Heath Canada.

This foreign health product has been found to contain undeclared lead and mercury.

The product is not authorized for sale in Canada and has not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible that it may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet. Health Canada is warning consumers not to use this unauthorized product after it was associated with a Canadian case of lead poisoning. The product is promoted for the treatment of diabetes.

Health Canada is reminding Canadians about the dangers of consuming products containing sodium chlorite. Sodium chlorite is a chemical used mainly as a textile bleaching agent and disinfectant as well as for industrial water purification. Ingesting sodium chlorite in the concentrations contained in MMS products can cause poisoning, kidney failure, harm to red blood cells, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, among other harms. MMS has been promoted under different names, such as "Miracle Mineral Supplement," "Master Mineral Solution," or its ingredient, sodium chlorite. The products have been promoted as treatments for a range of health ailments, including serious conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and childhood autism.

Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s draft screening assessment of talc proposes that: breathing in loose talc powder may cause lung effects, such as coughing, trouble breathing, decreased lung function and fibrosis; and exposure to the perineal area from the use of certain products containing talc is a possible cause of ovarian cancer..

Health Canada is aware of individuals and companies that are offering processing services for the preparation of the placenta for consumption. While consuming placenta is a personal choice, we are advising mothers, and others who may be consuming placenta preparations that they should be aware of the potential risks associated with the practice for themselves and their babies. There is currently no scientific evidence that supports claims of health benefits associated with consuming human placenta.

While many health product websites are lawful businesses, some sell products that may present serious health risks. If you buy health products over the Internet, it is important to know the risks and to take steps to protect yourself and your family.

While health products sold online may look legitimate, you may have no way of knowing where they were manufactured, what is in them, or if they have been approved by Health Canada and assessed for safety, effectiveness and quality. You may get fake or unauthorized products with no active ingredients, the wrong ingredients, or dangerous additives (such as prescription drugs not listed on the label). Unlicensed medical devices purchased over the Internet may be low quality, may not work, or may not be safe.

Health Canada seized “Surfaz-SN Triple Action Cream”—an unauthorized skin cream promoted for antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory use—because it is labelled to contain prescription drugs (betamethasone dipropionate and neomycin sulphate). The product was seized from Kaf African Caribbean Market (2642 Liruma Road, Unit 2A) in Mississauga, Ontario.

Surfaz-SN Triple Action Cream has not been evaluated by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness or quality and may pose serious health risks.

Health Canada is reminding consumers that decorative contact lenses pose health risks. It’s important to use these lenses safely.

Decorative contact lenses (sometimes called “fashion,” “costume,” “cosmetic” or “coloured” contact lenses) don’t correct vision; they change how eyes look. They are typically sold at costume and novelty shops, at cosmetic retailers and online.

All types of contact lenses, including decorative lenses, pose health risks, including:

• cuts or scratches to the top layer of the eyeball (corneal abrasions);
• allergic reactions (e.g., itchy, watery, red eyes);
• impaired vision;
• infections; and
• blindness.

Pfizer Canada has advised Health Canada that, in a very small number of cases, some EpiPen (0.3 mg) and EpiPen Jr (0.15 mg) auto-injector devices may not slide out of their carrier tube easily, or at all. This could delay or prevent emergency treatment, possibly leading to patient disability or death.

According to the company, the device label has been improperly applied to a very small number of devices in a way that the device label may become stuck to the inside of the carrier tube. This could mean that the device does not slide out of the tube as easily as expected. The issue is with the device label, and not with the device itself or the drug that it delivers (epinephrine).

EpiPen and EpiPen Jr are used to deliver an emergency treatment of adrenaline (epinephrine) to patients who are at risk or have a history of life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

Products are not being recalled by Pfizer, as the risk can be mitigated easily by pharmacists and patients by checking devices before an emergency situation arises to make sure they slide easily out of their carrier tube.

Hydroquinone is used to lighten dark spots on the skin such as age spots, liver spots or freckles. However, Health Canada recommends that products for use on the skin that contain high concentrations of hydroquinone be used with caution and only under the supervision of a health care professional.

There are a number of risks associated with skin-lightening products that contain hydroquinone at concentrations greater than 2%.

These products may:

• cause severe skin redness, burning or stinging, dryness or cracking of the skin, blisters or oozing, or skin discolouration;
• cause cancer in laboratory animals, and potentially in humans; and,
• be harmful to the environment.

Canadians should not buy or use health products that contain 2,4-dinitrophenol, more commonly known as DNP, because it is toxic and can cause death. Products containing DNP are primarily marketed towards bodybuilders and are promoted online as a "fat burner" or "shredder" and for weight loss. There are currently no health products containing DNP approved by Health Canada because of serious safety concerns.

In the United Kingdom, five deaths between January 2018 and June 2018 have been linked to the use of DNP. Health Canada has been made aware that some Canadians may have purchased products containing DNP online. No deaths have been reported in Canada to date.

Health Canada is advising Canadians that several unauthorized products seized from Vitality Health Foods in Drayton Valley, AB, may pose serious health risks. The 11 products include vitamins, dietary supplements, workout supplements and decongestants. Seized products were labelled to contain various ingredients, including prescription drugs and controlled substances.