Properly packaged birth control pills are shown in a combination of images from Teva Canada Inc.'s recall of Seasonique and Seasonale.
A packaging defect has triggered a recall of two commonly prescribed birth control pills in Canada, after a user discovered an entire blister card missing from a pack.
Teva Canada has pulled specific lots of Seasonique and Seasonale, warning patients not to miss a single dose and to visit a pharmacy immediately for a replacement.
The affected lots are as follows:
- Seasonique – DIN 02346176, expiry 07/2027, lots 100073408 and 100077864; and
- Seasonale – DIN 02296659, expiry 01/2027, lot 100076607.
The affected products are sold as 91-day supplies designed to reduce periods to four times a year. Each pack should contain three blister cards with 84 active pills. Missing tablets can significantly increase the risk of unintended pregnancy and may also cause spotting or irregular bleeding.
Health officials say anyone who finds pills missing should return the package at once. If an urgent replacement is not possible, users are advised to continue taking the next pill as indicated and use a non-hormonal backup method, such as condoms, until a new pack is obtained.
The recall follows a formal complaint and comes less than a year after similar packaging problems with the same brands. Previous incidents involved missing pills and extra placebo tablets.
The number of people affected has not been disclosed. Patients with concerns are being urged to consult their doctor or pharmacist.
