TORONTO - Health Canada is warning consumers against using Rize 2 The Occasion, an unauthorized product sold for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
The department says the capsules contain an undeclared pharmaceutical compound similar to sildenafil, the active ingredient in several prescription-only erectile dysfunction drugs.
Cana International Distributing is conducting a voluntary recall of all lots of Rize 2 from retail outlets across Canada and from Internet-based vendors, and Health Canada is advising retailers to remove the product from their shelves.
Sildenafil can pose serious health risks and should only be used under the supervision of a health-care professional.
In particular, people with medical conditions such as heart problems, those taking heart medications or nitrate drugs, or people at risk for strokes should not take the drug.
Use of sildenafil by people with heart disease can result in serious cardiovascular side-effects such as sudden cardiac death, heart attack, stroke, low blood pressure, chest pain and abnormal heartbeat.
