Interior Health (IH) issued a drug alert for the Kelowna area after the discovery of counterfeit drug tablets being sold as Oxycodone containing high amounts of Medetomidine.
The 20mg tablets bring a high risk of overdose as Medetomidine is a very strong tranquilizer. It can cause breathing and heart rate to slow down, making overdoses more complicated and last longer as it does not respond to naloxone. IH says the tablets do not contain any Oxycodone.
IH says be aware of fakes if not purchasing from a pharmacy. Drug checking is available to anyone who believes they may be in possession of the fake tablets or ones looking similar.
The alert is in place until June 10, 2026.
