Pfizer is recalling about a million packets of birth control pills because they may contain inadequate amounts of contraceptive to prevent pregnancy.
Pfizer is reporting that some of the packs “may contain an inexact count of inert or active ingredient tablets and that the tablets may be out of sequence.” The pills are sold under the brand name Akrimax Pharmaceuticals. The birth control pills were distributed to pharmacies, clinics and warehouses.
The pills being recalled are identified as being 14 lots of Lo/Ovral-28 tablets and 14 lots of Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol. Pfizer said in a statement that consumers who are using the affected pills “should begin using a non-hormonal form of contraception immediately.” They also said the pills don’t pose any immediate adverse heath affects (other than the risk of pregnancy, we presume). They do ask that any “adverse events” related to the recalled pills be reported to Akrimax Medical Information at 1-877-509-3935 from Monday through Friday, 8AM to 7PM, CST, or FDA’s Med Watch Program at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm1 or by mail (mailing information at: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm2).
List of the recalled birth control pills that are included in the February 1, 2012, recall statement is below:
product | lot number | expiration | configuration/count
LO/OVRAL® 28 | E15678 | 08/31/2013 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | E15679 | 08/31/2013 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | E15686 | 08/31/2013 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | E15687 | 01/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | E15690 | 01/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | E15698 | 01/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | E15700 | 02/28/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | E80434 | 07/31/2013 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | E80438 | 08/31/2013 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | F36908 | 02/28/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | F36909 | 02/28/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | F43915 | 03/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | F43926 | 03/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
LO/OVRAL® 28 | F43927 | 03/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | E15677 | 08/31/2013 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | E15704 | 01/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | E15706 | 01/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | E80440 | 08/31/2013 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | F16388 | 01/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | F16390 | 02/28/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | F22132 | 02/28/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | F31330 | 02/28/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | F36911 | 03/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | F36913 | 03/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | F43924 | 03/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | F43925 | 03/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | F43934 | 03/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each
Norgestrel 0.3 mg/Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg | F53238 | 03/31/2014 | 6 Pilpacks® of 28 tablets each