How many cases of EMS were recognized in Canada?
In Canada, 11 cases have been “confirmed” according to the authorities there. “All but one of the victims had obtained the supply of L-tryptophan from U.S. sources” according to the Canadian report submitted to Congress in July, 1991. Furthermore, tryptophan was available only as a prescription drug in Canada and the “one product approved for sale has not been associated with EMS to date [that is, July 1991].” This prescription drug is known as Tryptan (registered name). One of the 11 EMS cases in Canada did not involve contaminated LT but was associated with 5-hydroxy-tryptophan, often called 5-HTP. Canada, so far as I know, made tryptophan, as a single amino acid, a drug in 1985 and removed it from sale over the counter.
