Advisory - Unauthorized prescription antibiotic drugs seized from Gigi's Market in Ottawa, ON, may pose serious health risks

OTTAWA, May 18, 2018 /CNW/ -

Issue
Health Canada has seized four unauthorized drugs from Gigi's Market, 23 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON. The products (Ampicillin, Kamox, Medampi and Medomox) are labelled to contain antibiotic drugs (ampicillin or amoxicillin) that can only be dispensed by a healthcare professional to a patient with a valid prescription. The products listed below have not been evaluated by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness or quality and may pose serious health risks.

Who is affected

• Consumers who have bought or used the affected products.

Affected product

• Ampicillin (Ampicillin Capsules BP 500 mg)
• Kamox 500 (Amoxicillin Capsules BP 500 mg)
• Medampi 500 (Ampicillin Capsules BP 500 mg)
• Medomox 500 (Amoxicillin Capsules BP 500 mg)

What consumers should do

• Do not use these products. Consult with your healthcare professional if you have used these products and have health concerns.
• Read product labels to verify that health products have been authorized for sale by Health Canada. Authorized health products have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM). You can also check whether products have been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada's Drug Product Database and Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
• Report adverse events to health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1‑866‑234‑2345, or by reporting online, by mail or by fax.
• Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1‑800‑267‑9675, or complete an online complaint form.

What Health Canada is doing
Health Canada has seized the products from the retail location. Should additional retailers or distributors be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians as necessary.

Background
Drugs that have not been approved by Health Canada have not been assessed for safety, effectiveness and quality and could cause serious health risks. For example, unauthorized drugs may:

• be fake
• be contaminated
• contain dangerous ingredients not listed on the label
• not contain the drug shown on the label

Products containing prescription drugs should be taken only under the supervision of a healthcare professional because they are used to treat specific health conditions and may cause serious side effects.

Ampicillin and amoxicillin are antibiotic (antibacterial) drugs used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria. Serious side effects with ampicillin and amoxicillin include severe allergic reactions (swollen nose, eyes, throat, difficulty breathing and skin rash), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and signs of kidney and liver problems.

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SOURCE Health Canada