Recall: Birth control pills with incorrect instructions can cause 'unintended pregnancy'
Courtesy: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
TAMPA (FOX 13) - A pharmaceutical company is voluntarily recalling birth control pill packages due to a packaging error that could cause “unintended pregnancy.”
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. issued the voluntary recall. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the incorrect instructions can cause a consumer to take each pill in the wrong order or can take an “inactive ‘reminder’ pill” instead of an active pill.
The recall is issued for: one lot of Ortho-Novum 1/35 and two lots of Ortho-Novum 7/7/7. Health officials said it can not only lead to an unintended pregnancy, but it can cause bleeding.
However, the pharmaceutical company said the product itself is safe if it is used correctly. They advise women to take the 21 “active pills” for three weeks, followed by the one week of the green “reminder” pills, which do not include hormones.
The active pills are peach in color for Ortho-Novum 1/35. However, they are white, light-peach and peach for Ortho-Novum 7/7/7.
The affected lots are:
ORTHO-NOVUM® 1/35
NDC Number (carton): 50458-176-06
NDC Number (pouch): 50458-176-28
Lot Number: 18BM114
Expiration Date: March 2020
ORTHO-NOVUM® 7/7/7
NDC Number (carton): 50458-178-06
NDC Number (pouch): 50458-178-28
Lot Number: 18CM120
Expiration Date: March 2020
ORTHO-NOVUM® 7/7/7
NDC Number (carton): 50458-178-12
NDC Number (pouch): 50458-178-12
Lot Number: 18BM110
Expiration Date: March 2020
Consumers using the product can call Janssen with questions: 1-800-526-7736 and access the correct instructions online. The full recall can be found on the FDA’s website.