Health Canada advises consumers not to use this product. It contains the undeclared prescription drug estazolam (Prosom), which can be habit-forming when used for as little as a few months.

Estazolam is a member of the benzodiazepine class of drugs. It was being promoted as a herbal product to relieve sleeping difficulty.

The idea that a healthcare professional ? in this case an acupuncturist at the Evergreen Acupuncture Clinic in Calgary, Alberta — would permit the distribution of this drug without informing consumers is unconscionable.

C’mon doctor!

The rule is that you can’t take a prescription medicine, re-label it with your brand, call it “natural,” and then sell it without telling people what you’ve done.

Give us a break!

Drugs that are limited to prescription status are basically poisons that you can get away with using to you benefit only under the supervision of a specialist — think medical doctor, pharmacist, nurse.

Estazolam requires special caution if you run hazardous equipment or are involved in an occupation that requires complete mental alertness, such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle. Withdrawal signs and symptoms are also a risk.

And this is not the first time mislabeling happened. Health Canada has issued 3 advisories on similar products — all containing undeclared drug estazolam.

• Salt Spring Herbals Sleep Well Dietary Supplement
• Sleepees
• Eden Herbal Formulations Sleep Ease Dietary Supplement

4/29/07 15:53 JR