Pfizer Recalls Birth Control Pills

Pfizer has recalled 28 different lots of birth control pills because they were not made correctly and/or not packaged correctly and may not prevent pregnancy. The affected pills are Lo/Ovral-28 and the generic version, Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets. From Pfizer:

Pfizer Inc. announced today that it has voluntarily recalled 14 lots of Lo/Ovral®-28 (norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol)Tablets and 14 lots of Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (generic)for customers in the U.S. market. An investigation by Pfizer found that some blister packs may contain an inexact count of inert or active ingredient tablets and that the tablets may be out of sequence. The cause was identified and corrected immediately.

These products are oral contraceptives indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use oral contraceptives as a method of contraception. These tablets were manufactured and packaged by Pfizer Inc., commercialized by Akrimax Rx Products and labeled under the Akrimax Pharmaceuticals brand. This product is distributed to warehouses, clinics and retail pharmacies nationwide.

As a result of this packaging error, the daily regimen for these oral contraceptives may be incorrect and could leave women without adequate contraception, and at risk for unintended pregnancy. These packaging defects do not pose any immediate health risks. However, consumers exposed to affected packaging should begin using a non-hormonal form of contraception immediately. Patients who have the affected product (lot numbers are provided below) should notify their physician and return the product to the pharmacy.

These products are packaged in blister packs containing 21 tablets of active ingredients and seven tablets of inert ingredients. Correct dosing of this product is important in avoiding the associated risks of an unplanned pregnancy.

At the link above is Pfizer's list of affected lots.

I know what Pfizer meant by "not [posing] any immediate health risk", as in "the wrongly made pills themselves won't harm you if you take or took them"...but really now. Wrongly made and packaged birth control pills pose a health risk that's pretty damn high for many people. Apparently one million pill packs are being recalled.