There is currently a nationwide recall of the birth control pill packs sold under the brand name “Taytulla.”
Allergan, the maker of this birth control pill, issued a voluntary recall after a physician notified them that one of their sample packs had the maroon placebo pills in front of the hormonal pills. In the proper order, the four placebo pills come at the end of the pack, and the first four pills are the pink hormonal pills.
This creates a serious issue for those taking the birth control because it could render it ineffective. Women can skip the placebo pills because they are there for those who are worried about forgetting the pill schedule, but taking four placebo pills or skipping them in the last pack and then taking four placebo pills at the start of a new pack with the wrong order could result in the ovaries no longer being suppressed. Taking the placebo pills for eight days doesn’t necessarily guarantee pregnancy, but it does make it a possibility as it’s a longer time between hormonal doses than this manufacturer recommends.
Currently, this recall only affects the sample packets a person would get at their doctor’s office and not the packs that come directly from the pharmacy. All packs are being recalled, but packs with a Lot Number of 5620706 and a expiration date of May 2019 are in particular focus, as this was the lot the notifying physician’s pack was a part of.
Allergan released a statement on its website saying that the packing error places users at risk for failure of contraception and unplanned pregnancies. The company also noted that the order error may not be apparent to people who haven’t used the product recently or new users and advised women who are concerned about unintended pregnancy to speak to their doctors. As with any other medication, people are also being advised to check new batches of their regular medication upon receipt. If anything looks different than it did previously, a doctor should be notified before the medication is taken.
Women who have sample packs they have not used yet should notify their doctors to return them or dispose of them safely. Those who have used a pack that they suspect or know is a part of the recall should speak to their doctor about what to do next. While advice will vary by doctor, many physicians are advising women in these cases to use backup birth control and/or take emergency contraception if pregnancy is a real possibility. Women who miss their period at the end of the month after taking pills in the wrong sequence should take a pregnancy test and talk to their doctor about their options.
This product recall will only affect a limited number of people, but its consequences for some women may be very serious. Medication errors can have life-altering consequences for those relying on the medicine. Speak to an experienced attorney, like a Denver product liability attorney, if you’ve been impacted by ineffective or tainted medicine.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Richard J. Banta, P.C. for their insight into nationwide birth control recall.