Advisory - Multiple cold and flu powdered medications, for adults and children 12 years of age and older, recalled due to potential health risks
OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 20, 2021 /CNW/ -
Summary
Product: Multiple generic store-brand cold and flu powdered medications for adults and children 12 years of age and older.
Issue: CellChem Pharmaceuticals Inc. is recalling all lots of several products due to potential health risks. The company could not demonstrate that products remain safe and of good quality until their expiry date, and multiple lots had inconsistent quantities of active ingredients in the products.
What to do: Stop using the recalled products. Talk to your healthcare provider if you or your child have taken a recalled product and have health concerns.
Issue
CellChem Pharmaceuticals Inc. is recalling all lots of cold and flu medications, sold in pouches of dissolvable powder, due to potential health risks. The products are authorized for use in adults and children 12 years of age and older. They are available over-the-counter and sold under various generic store-brand labels at many retailers across Canada.
The products are being recalled because the company could not demonstrate that products remain safe and of good quality until the expiry date. In addition, multiple lots had active ingredients, such as acetaminophen, that were not in the amounts listed on the product label.
Products that contain less than the labelled quantity of active ingredients may be less effective. Taking products that contain more than the labelled quantity of active ingredients can lead to inadvertently exceeding the maximum daily doses. For example, products that contain too much acetaminophen could pose serious health risks, such as liver damage. Signs of taking too much acetaminophen include nausea, vomiting, lethargy, sweating, loss of appetite and pain in the upper part of the abdomen or stomach. Abdominal pain may be the first sign of liver damage and may not be apparent for 24 to 48 hours. Risks of taking too much of an active ingredient may be higher for children and adolescents.
Health Canada identified these issues during an inspection. As a result, the company initiated a recall in September 2021 of certain powdered cold and flu medications. This recall is now being expanded after further investigation by the company identified additional affected products.
At Health Canada's direction, CellChem Pharmaceuticals Inc. has stopped selling and is recalling the affected products. Health Canada is monitoring the company's recall and the implementation of any corrective and preventative actions. If additional safety concerns are identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians as needed.
Affected products
Product
Generic Store Brand
DIN
Extra Strength Total Symptom Relief Sugar-Free
Biomedic
Equate
Pharmasave
Wellness by London Drugs
02420937
Hot Lemon Relief for Symptoms of Cold and Flu (Extra strength)
Atoma
Biomedic
Life Brand
Option+
Personelle
Pharmasave
Rexall
Teva
Wellness by London Drugs
Western Family
02238890
Hot Lemon Relief for Symptoms of Cold and Flu (Regular strength)
Atoma
Life Brand
Personelle
Pharmasave
Rexall
Teva
Western Family
02047349
Hot Lemon Relief for Symptoms of Cough, Cold and Flu (Extra Strength)
Life Brand
02246848
Night Time Total Extra Strength
Life Brand
02344548
Total Flu
Atoma
Biomedic
Option+
Personelle
Pharmasave
Rexall
02442787
What you should do
Stop using the recalled products. Talk to your healthcare provider if you or your child have taken a recalled product and have health concerns.
Follow municipal or regional guidelines on how to dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste; or
Return the product to your local pharmacy for proper disposal.
Contact CellChem Pharmaceuticals Inc. by calling 1-844-481-8884, or emailing [email protected], if you have questions about the recall.
The IAMStm brand, proudly part of the Mars family of brands, announced today the launch of the IAMStm Puppy Hub and Kitten Hub, two online tools featuring expert knowledge and advice for new and soon-to-be pet parents. Each Hub will bring...
Today, TELUS Health announced a collaboration with Nova Scotia Health (NSH) to enable residents of Nova Scotia to access their primary care information through the YourHealthNS app. This health data interoperability initiative marks the first...
The global Digital Healthcare Market, valued at $220.10 billion in 2024, is on a trajectory of rapid expansion, with projections indicating it will soar to $836.10 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% from 2024 to...
Medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra (STO: SECT B) is publishing its Annual Report and Sustainability Report for the 2023/2024 fiscal year today. This report also includes the Corporate Governance Report for the same period.
The...
Calliditas Therapeutics AB (STO: CALTX) ("Calliditas") today announces that its partner Viatris Pharmaceutical Japan G.K. ("Viatris") has initiated a phase III clinical trial in Japan with Nefecon, named VR-205 in the Japanese market, in Japanese...
Global biotechnology leader CSL Behring today announced that two hemophilia B patients were treated with the gene therapy HEMGENIX® (etranacogene dezaparvovec) at Hemophilia Treatment Centers in France. This milestone achievement makes HEMGENIX® the...