Health Canada is warning customers after fake viagra was seized from a convenience store in Toronto.
In a notice posted to its website, the health agency says that the counterfeit products were discovered at Queen St, Variety, located at 1296 Queen St E.
Health Canada says that the manufacturer of Viagra has confirmed that the products seized are fake.
Health Canada released images of the product and says, like the authentic version, the packaging on the fake viagra indicated that it contains the prescription drug sildenafil, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction.
“This medication should only be used under the supervision of a health care professional and should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug as it can cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure,” Health Canada said in a statement to Now Toronto on Wednesday.
The agency says that counterfeit products have not been assessed for safety, and may contain no drug at all, a higher dosage shown on the label, and dangerous contaminants or hidden ingredients.
“The best way to make sure your prescription drug is authentic is to buy it from a licensed pharmacy, with a prescription from your health care professional,” the agency said.
The health agency is reminding people that prescription drugs cannot be sold outside of a licensed pharmacy, and are urging customers who may have purchased it to stop using the product and safely dispose of it.
PHARMACIST FINDS THE SITUATION ‘SURPRISING’
While it’s not the first time counterfeit medications have been sold to consumers, Assistant Professor and Indigenous Engagement Lead at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, Jaris Swidrovich, says this particular situation does come as a shock since it was being framed as a prescription product.
“I have not personally heard of a situation where a prescription medication in Canada was being sold as a counterfeit product, and particularly sold through a storefront,” Swidrovich said in an interview with Now Toronto.
Swidrovich says that transactions involving counterfeit products typically take place in non-store front areas such as a parking lot or vehicle, which makes the situation even more surprising.
“Whoever made this decision, I’m sure, was aware that this is not a legitimate product, if for some reason, they thought maybe it might be, I would be doing my research first,” he said.
Swidrovich says it’s “clear” the store did not receive the products from a reputable manufacturer or company, and in a case the products were legitimate, would never receive such products from any reputable company.
He’s encouraging customers to look out for red flags when encountering similar situations.
“Just simply seeing it on the shelf somewhere would be a major red flag because it’s a prescription medication,” he said.
