Health Canada seizes illegal injectable drugs from SW Calgary wellness centre

Health Canada says illegal drugs seized from a Calgary wellness centre could pose serious health risks if taken.

The national health agency says more than two-dozen illegal injectable peptide drugs were taken from the Optimum Wellness Centre on Southport Road SW.

Anyone who has been prescribed an unauthorized injectable drug, or is unsure whether they have received an unauthorized injectable drug at this centre and has health concerns, is advised to talk to a healthcare professional.

Individuals are also warned not to buy or use unauthorized drugs. Users should read product lables or confirm with the person administering the product that it has been authorized for sale by Health Canada.

Health Canada says the drugs seized include:

• ARA 290
• BPC-157
• CJC-1295
• DSIP without Mannitol
• Epitalon
• Frag 17-23 of Thymosin-ß4 without Mannitol
• GHK-Cu without Mannitol
• Humanin HNG without Mannitol
• Ipamorelin
• KCF-18
• Kisspeptin-10
• KPV
• Melanotan-2
• Mots-C
• Pinealon
• PNC 27
• PT-141
• PTD-DBM
• Selank
• Thymosin-a1 (TA1)
• Thymosin-a1 without Mannitol (TA1)
• Thymosin-ß4 (TB4 or TB-500)
• Thymulin without Mannitol
• Vesugen
• Vilon (Lys-Glu)
• VIP without Mannitol

According to Health Canada, peptide drugs affect the body’s functions and most injectible peptides are regulated as prescription drugs in Canada.

None of the products seized have been authorized for use by the health agency, meaning they haven’t been assessed for safety, efficacy, and quality, and are illegal to be sold in Canada.

Further more, unauthorized injectable drugs can cause infection, allergic reactions, possible interactions with other medications an individual might be taking, and other poor outcomes.

They could also contain high-risk ingredients, additives or contaminants that may or may not be listed on the label.

Health Canada says these drugs have also not have been manufactured or stored safely.

A reminder that authorized health products have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM).

Users can also check whether products have been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada’s Drug Product Database and Licensed Natural Health Product Database.