Single lot of birth control recalled over 'missing and mispackaged' pills
Health Canada has issued a recall for a single lot of birth control packages that may have "missing and mispackaged" pills, which could put users at higher risk of unwanted pregnancy.
Blister packs in the affected boxes of Linessa 21 may contain pills that are in the wrong order, or have multiple pills packed into one pocket, according to a recall notice issued Saturday. In some cases, pills may be missing.
The packages are labelled DIN 02272903, lot 20049 and have an expiry date of March 2023.
Health Canada said anyone with a box of Linessa 21 that has missing or mispackaged pills should return it to their pharmacy for a replacement.
"Do not miss a pill, take a pill out of order, or take two pills at the same time, as this could lead to undesired pregnancy and other side effects," the recall notice reads. "If you have questions or concerns about your product or about alternatives, talk to a health care professional and use an effective back-up method of contraception."
Those side effects can include spotting and irregular bleeding.
Boxes of Linessa 21 contain three weeks worth of pills in three colours – light yellow, orange and red – and each colour has a different amount of hormone, Health Canada said.
Anyone who can't get to a pharmacy for a replacement box quickly is advised to "take the next light yellow, orange or red pill in the order that you are to take, following the proper order," according to the recall.
"If you have already missed a pill, have no more pills of the proper colour, or if you are unsure which one to take, use a non-hormonal method of birth control (such as condoms) and contact your pharmacist as soon as possible," it reads.
Customers can also contact the manufacturer, Aspen Pharmacare Canada Inc., for more information by emailing can.quality@aspenpharma.com or calling 1-844-330-1213.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'