Health Canada released photos of the imitation pills that appear similar to the authentic prescription drug. Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra, confirmed the seized tablets were counterfeit.
Health Canada released photos of the imitation pills that appear similar to the authentic prescription drug. Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra, confirmed the seized tablets were counterfeit.
Fake Viagra pills have been seized from a Pickering grocery store by Health Canada.
The counterfeit pills were removed from Pacific Fresh Food Market on Kingston Road, the federal health agency said in a recall and safety alert advisory.
The tablets are blue and diamond-shaped with “Pfizer” written on the front of the packaging, similar to what the real sexual enhancement medication looks like, photos released by Health Canada show.
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“Viagra” and “Pfizer” are also printed on the back of the pill packets though the company has confirmed the product is an imitation, .
Anyone who took the fake pills should see a doctor, the government agency advised.
The pills were labelled to contain sildenafil, the key prescription drug found in the real Viagra that could have deadly consequences if not used correctly. Mixing sildenafil with any sort of nitrate drug could cause life-threatening low blood pressure, Health Canada said, adding that it should only be taken with advice from a doctor.
Anybody with heart problems is also at a greater risk for the drug’s side effects like heart attacks, strokes, chest pains, and abnormal heartbeats. Users could also get headaches, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision and hearing loss.
Health Canada did not specify the specific risks of the seized batch but warned that counterfeit pills may contain no drug at all, a higher dosage than what’s shown on the label, or dangerous and hidden ingredients.
Kristjan Lautens is a staff reporter, working out of the Star’s
radio room in Toronto. Reach him via email: klautens@thestar.ca
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