Health Canada is requesting
a recall of certain products containing ephedra/ephedrine from
the market after a risk assessment team concluded that these products
pose a serious risk to health. Adverse events including stroke,
heart attacks, heart rate irregularities, seizures, psychoses
and deaths have been reported in association with the use of some
products containing ephedra/ephedrine when taken with caffeine.
Truckstops are one point
of sale for ephedra-based products. The products in question are
sold over-the-counter for purposes of weight loss, body-building
or increased energy. At the time the health advisory was issued,
60 incidents related to taking the drugs had been reported. Health
Canada said inspectors will be visiting stores and asking retailers
to pull the products from shelves.
