Birth control pill recalled after manufacturing mix-up means some women risk taking a PLACEBO instead of a hormonal pill
- Several lots of Apotex’s drospirenone and ethinyl estadiol tablets may be in the wrong order
- Some packets may be missing a pill per packet, the firm said on Monday
- Four batches have been recalled and patients are urged to return them
A birth control brand has recalled several lots that may be in the wrong order or be missing a pill per packet.
Apotex Corp recalled four lots of drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol tablets on Monday to prevent women accidentally taking a placebo instead of a hormonal pill.
Normally, the pills, a combination of estrogen and progestin, are arranged in three lines of yellow and one line of white.
While it is not essential to take a week of placebos – they are merely for psychological reasons, to mimic a period – those who take a placebo when they intend to take a hormonal pill could risk an unintended pregnancy.
Apotex, based in Florida, said no unintended pregnancies have been reported.
This is one of the packets of birth control pills recalled today by Apotex
Due to a manufacturing mix-up, some women may have placebos (white pills) when they should have hormonal pills (yellow ones)
The FDA posted the recall online urging patients to return any affected batches
Posting the recall online, the FDA urged patients to return any affected batches to their pharmacist and to take precautions, either by continuing to use their hormonal medication or by using condoms or another form of contraception.
When used at exactly the same time every day, the birth control pill is 99 percent effective. If you skip a dose or take them irregularly, it’s 91 percent effective.
Though it is one of the most popular forms of contraception for women, there are some down sides.
It does not protect from sexually-transmitted diseases, and it depends on the reliability of the user.
All of the affected packets are best before January 2020, and they come in doses of 3 mg/0.03 mg doses.
The NDC (national drug code) numbers are:
- 60505-418-3 7DY008A
- 60505-418-3 7DY009A
- 60505-418-3 7DY010A
- 60505-418-3 7DY011A
Customers who purchased the impacted product direct from Apotex can call GENCO at 1- 877-674-2082.