Alysena 28 Birth Control Pills Recall Expanded

Written by admin, April 15, 2013

April 15, 2013 – Women Using Alysena 28 Urged to Contact Their Healthcare Provider

Peterborough Public Health is alerting women, primary and other healthcare providers that Health Canada has expanded its initial recall of the oral contraceptive (birth control pill) Alysena 28. Women affected by this recall are urged to contact their pharmacist or primary care provider.

Officials have been alerted that the recalled Apotex Inc. product lots have expanded to include LF01899A LF01901A; LF01980A; LF02037A; LF01900A; LF01982A; LF02036A; LF01898A; LF01981A; LF02026A; LF01894B; LF01979A may contain two rows (14 tablets) of placebo (sugar) tablets. Correct packaging should contain one row of placebo tablets (7 tablets) and three rows of active contraceptive tablets (21 tablets) in the blister pack.

The effectiveness of the Alysena 28 product to prevent pregnancy may have been reduced therefore there is a potential risk of unplanned pregnancy associated with this recall.  It is necessary for any woman who uses any birth control to find out if they are affected.

Alysena is similar to the birth control pill, Alesse.  If women received a prescription for Alesse and had it filled at a pharmacy, it is possible the pharmacy may have provided Alysena instead.  Women are advised to contact their pharmacy to find out whether they have been given Alesse or Alysena.

The Public Health recommends that all women who use this brand of birth control use a non-hormonal (barrier) method of contraception, such as condoms, as an interim measure until they obtain medical advice. If you believe you are affected by this recall, please call or visit the pharmacy where your prescription was dispensed, visit your healthcare provider or call Public Health’s Sexual Health Clinic at 705-748-2021.

Wholesalers, distributors and retailers in the following provinces have been affected by this recall: Ontario, Quebec, British Colombia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

More information about this recall is available on Health Canada and Apotex, the drug manufacturer, websites.

Residents can pick up free condoms at the Sexual Health Clinic, located at 185 King Street, Peterborough.

For more information on birth control or healthy sexuality visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca, or call the OPH Information Line at 613-580-6744. You can also follow Public Health on Twitter and Facebook.

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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Officer
(705) 743-1000, ext. 391

 


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