The Canadian Ministry of Health announced the withdrawal of a prescribed topical medication used to relieve itching and inflammation caused by common conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

The withdrawal affected a specific quantity of ratio-Ectoson lotion from Teva, at a concentration of 0.05%, which is a corticosteroid treatment sold in 60 ml bottles, with a drug identification number (DIN) of 00653209, batch number 688519, and the product expires this month.

The manufacturer of the lotion - Teva Canada Limited - examined the affected product and stated that it contained impurities known as betamethasone enol aldehyde above the acceptable limit.

A statement from the Canadian Ministry of Health said, "These impurities can form due to a chemical change in the medication during storage and may pose health risks, including the possibility of adverse reactions on the skin or elsewhere in the body due to their absorption into the bloodstream."

The statement added, "The risk may be greater in children who may absorb relatively larger amounts of the impurities and are more prone to adverse reactions."

Bottles of the affected eczema lotion were distributed to pharmacies across Canada between November 24, 2022, and March 22, 2023.

If you have one of the affected preparations, stop using it, and speak to your doctor if you have used the product on yourself or your child and have health concerns.

Do not throw away the product or attempt to destroy it, as Canadian consumer product safety laws prohibit such actions; instead, please return it to your local pharmacy for proper disposal.