Counterfeit Cialis and Viagra seized from Toronto, Pickering, and Brantford stores
Health Canada has issued a public advisory about counterfeit Cialis and Viagra products being sold in stores located in Toronto, Pickering and Brantford.
Health Canada says the manufacturers of Cialis and Viagra have confirmed that the seized products are counterfeit.
These products are in addition to the counterfeit Viagra that Health Canada had previously seized from Queen St. Variety store and Pacific Fresh Food Market.
READ: Fake Viagra and Cialis drugs seized from c-gas station in Vineland, Ont.
The affected products are:
Product | How to identify if counterfeit | Company | Action Taken |
| Counterfeit Cialis 20 mg | - Expiry date with an incorrect format printed on the foil blister pack, "EXP 04 2028" - Invalid lot number printed on the foil blister pack, "LOT: 05668" | Brant Convenience, 181 Brant Ave, Brantford, ON | Seized from retail location |
| Counterfeit Viagra 100 mg | - Expiry date with an incorrect format printed on the foil blister pack, "EXP 0 32025" - No lot number | Brant Convenience, 181 Brant Ave, Brantford, ON | Seized from retail location |
| Counterfeit Cialis 20 mg | - Expiry date with an incorrect format printed on the foil blister pack, "EXP 04 2025" - Invalid lot number printed on the foil blister pack, "LOT: 05668" | Pacific Fresh Food Market, 1300 Kingston Rd, Pickering, ON | Seized from retail location |
| Counterfeit Cialis 20 mg | - Expiry date with an incorrect format printed on the foil blister pack, "EXP 04 2028" - Invalid lot number printed on the foil blister pack, "LOT: 05668" | Queen St. Variety, 1296 Queen St E, Toronto, ON | Seized from retail location |
Selling counterfeit drugs in Canada is illegal. Counterfeit drugs are made to look like authentic products, but they are not the same and may pose serious health risks. Health Canada has not assessed them for safety, efficacy, and quality, and they may contain:
- no drug at all
- a higher dosage than shown on the label
- dangerous contaminants and hidden ingredients
Like the authentic versions, the seized products are labelled to contain either the prescription drug sildenafil or tadalafil. Sildenafil and tadalafil should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. They should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (e.g., nitroglycerin) as they can cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure. Individuals with heart problems are at increased risk of cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack, stroke, chest pain, high blood pressure, and abnormal heartbeat. Other possible side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.
