Canada Warns on Sleep Supplement Contamination

OTTAWA, Ontario—A sample of Salt Springs Herbals’ Sleep Well product was tested by Health Canada, which found it contained the undeclared drug estazolam, a sedative that can be habit-forming when used for as little as a few months. The agency is advising consumers not to use the product, and the company has issued a recall of the product.

According to Health Canada (www.hc-sc.gc.ca), drugs in the same class (benzodiazepine) as estazolam can only be prescribed by a physician. It reported to date, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada, but it advised consumers who have purchased Sleep Well capsules to return the product to the place of purchase.

The agency noted the product has been found on the Canadian market despite not being authorized for sale in the country. It is conducting additional tests to determine the source of the undeclared drug.