Oakville company recalls lot of Linessa 21 birth control pills

Oakville’s Aspen Pharmacare Canada is recalling one lot of Linessa 21, a prescription birth control pill.

A Health Canada alert said the recall is due to missing and mispackaged birth control pills.

Anyone who has a package with missing or mispackaged pills is asked to return it to their pharmacy for a replacement package.

According to the alert, the pills are from lot 200049 and expire March 2023. Thee blister packs could have missing pills, pills in the wrong order or may have more than one pill in the same blister pocket.

The Linessa package contains 21 coloured pills, seven light yellow, seven orange and seven red, with a different amount of hormone in each colour of the pill.

“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, including spotting and irregular bleeding,” the Health Canada alert said.

“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 (such as condoms).”

Health care professionals are also being asked to check Linessa 21 packages before dispensing (regardless of the lot) to make sure pills are not missing or mispackaged.

For more information, contact Aspen Pharmacare Canada at 1-844-330-1213 or contact them by email at [email protected].