Other safety alerts
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| Canada: Alesse 21 and 28 birth control pill: Packages may contain broken or smaller-than-normal pills, which may reduce effectiveness in preventing pregnancy |
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Health Canada is advising consumers and healthcare professionals that complaints have been received for packages of Alesse 21 (21 active pills) and Alesse 28 (21 active pills, 7 that contain no hormones). The blister packages for both contained an active (pink) pill that was roughly half the proper size. The complaints involved packages from the following lots, but it is not known at this time whether the issue is isolated to these lots:
- Alesse 21: Lot A2532, expires August 2018
- Alesse 28: Lot A3183, expires April 2019
Alesse 21 and Alesse 28 are prescription drugs used to prevent pregnancy. Broken or smaller-than-normal birth control pills may deliver a smaller dose of the active drug ingredient, which could reduce its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.
Consumers are advised to check their pills before and after taking them out of the blister package. Do not consume a pill if it looks unusual. Examine both sides of each pill thoroughly for anything unusual before taking it (such as, a different (paler) colour, jagged edges, or the pill is broken or smaller than normal). It may not be immediately obvious from looking at the blister package that there is a problem with the pills, as the underside of the pill cannot be seen while in the blister pack. If consumers have a package with an unusual pill, return it to their pharmacy for a replacement package.
Health Canada is working with the company, Pfizer Canada, to determine the nature and scope of the issue. Health Canada will continue to monitor the situation and assess the need for further action. Health Canada will update consumers and health care professionals as appropriate.
Please refer to the following website in Health Canada for details:
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/../65306a-eng.php
In Hong Kong, Loette Tab (HK-53602) is a pharmaceutical product registered by Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited (Pfizer) containing the same active ingredients as Alesse 21, and is a prescription-only medicine. As confirmed with Pfizer, the affected batches have not been imported into Hong Kong.
Ends/Monday, Dec 4, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00
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