Seasonique and Seasonale birth control pills are being recalled due to the possibility of a missing blister card

Issue

Teva Canada Ltd. is recalling two lots of Seasonique and one lot of Seasonale prescription birth control pills, as a precautionary measure, after receiving a complaint that a Seasonique package was missing an entire blister card of pills. This may increase the risk of unwanted pregnancy if someone were to miss taking them. If your package is missing a blister card or any pills, it is important that you do not skip any doses or stop taking your medication and that you get a replacement or an alternative product as soon as possible. Seasonique and Seasonale should be taken daily unless otherwise directed by your prescriber. Taking the pills in the proper order, according to the product label, is important for preventing pregnancy. Missing a pill could lead to unwanted pregnancy and other side effects, including spotting and irregular bleeding. Seasonique Seasonique pills are packaged in extended-cycle pill dispensers, each containing a 13-week (91 day) supply divided into three blister cards, each placed on its own tray: Trays 1 and 2 each contain a blister card with 28 active light blue-green pills (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol). Tray 3 contains a blister card with 35 pills: 28 active light blue-green pills (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) and 7 active yellow pills (ethinyl estradiol). Users can expect to have four periods per year, with bleeding occurring while taking the yellow pills. Seasonale Seasonale pills are packaged in extended-cycle pill dispensers, each containing a 13-week (91-day) supply divided into three blister cards, each placed on its own tray: Trays 1 and 2 each contain a blister card with 28 active pink pills (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol). Tray 3 contains a blister card with 35 pills: 28 active pink pills (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) and 7 placebo white pills. Users can expect to have four periods per year, with bleeding occurring while taking the white pills. Health Canada is monitoring the company's recall and investigation, including its implementation of corrective and preventive actions. The Department will inform the public if any new health risks are identified.

What you should do

• Do not skip any doses or stop taking Seasonique or Seasonale.
• If your package is missing a blister card or any pills, return it to your pharmacy for a replacement or an alternative product to avoid missing any doses.
• If you are unsure whether any blister card or pills are missing from your package, talk to your pharmacist.
• If you cannot get to a pharmacy right away, take the next pill in the proper order as noted in the packaging until you can contact your pharmacist and obtain a replacement or an alternative product. If you are missing any active light blue-green pills in your Seasonique package, or if you missed taking any light blue-green pills or if you are unsure, you should also use another method of non-hormonal back-up contraception (such as condoms) and consult with your health care professional. If you are missing any active pink pills in your Seasonale package, or if you missed taking any pink pills or if you are unsure, you should also use another method of non-hormonal back-up contraception (such as condoms) and consult with your health care professional.
• If you are missing any active light blue-green pills in your Seasonique package, or if you missed taking any light blue-green pills or if you are unsure, you should also use another method of non-hormonal back-up contraception (such as condoms) and consult with your health care professional.
• If you are missing any active pink pills in your Seasonale package, or if you missed taking any pink pills or if you are unsure, you should also use another method of non-hormonal back-up contraception (such as condoms) and consult with your health care professional.
• Talk to a health care professional if you have any other questions or concerns about your birth control product.
• Contact Teva Canada Ltd. by calling toll-free at 1-800-268-4129, Option 3, or by email at customer.service@tevacanada.com if you have questions about this recall.
• Report any health product-related side effects or complaints to Health Canada.