Pharmacists tracking down women who use recalled Alysena birth control pill

Pharmacists across the Maritimes are trying to track down women who may be at risk after the birth control pill Alysena 28 was recalled yesterday.

Arecall notice distributed by Health Canada, Apotex Inc. said the product's 28-day blister packs should include 21 active birth control pills, plus seven placebo tablets that contain no drug.

Apotex said blister packs in the affected lot -- LF01899A -- may instead contain 14 placebo pills and 14 active contraceptive tablets.

The company admits the error could result in unplanned pregnancies.

Mya Theriault-Green has been taking Alysena 28 since it came on the market.

“I have been taking the pill for about six months. I’m 38 and I am married. I already have two kids, so a third one would kind of be a major change for me,” says the Sydney resident.

Darlene George, pharmacist at the Pharmasave in Sydney, says Theriault-Green and seven of her other patients who take Alysena 28 don’t need to worry because their pills are not from the recalled batch.

“The first three rows of the package are the hormones, which are pink pills, and the last row contains the placebo pills, which are white,” explains George. “The recall was on a package that had two rows of white pills, instead of one row of white pills.”

Women’s groups are now weighing in on the matter.

Louise MacDonald, executive director of Every Woman’s Centre in Sydney, wonders how such a serious mistake could have been made with such a critical birth control product.

“It could have devastating effects for women. It really is hard to imagine that could happen in this day and age,” she says.

She says the recall will likely shake the confidence of patients who rely on prescribed medications.

“You take it, follow the instructions, and feel you are doing the right thing,” says MacDonald. “To find out that a mistake like that has been made is really devastating I think.”

Alysena 28 is sold in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, P.E.I. and Quebec.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Randy MacDonald and The Canadian Press