Birth control recalled—here’s how to check yours

If your doctor recently gave you sample packs of Taytulla birth control pills, you may want to use a backup method of birth control, and go back to the doctor for a different prescription.

The drug’s maker, Allergan, issued a recall because the pills in the sample packs have been mixed up, and the error in order could result in unintended pregnancies.

The first four days worth of pills are non-hormonal placebo capsules instead of active birth-control.

Allergan

A doctor who’d received sample packages from lot# 5620706 (with the expiration date of May 2019) reported the error to the pharmaceutical manufacturer. Like many oral contraceptives, Taytulla blister packages contain both active capsules and placebo pills, but they need to be taken in the correct order in order to be effective.

A pack of Taytulla should contain 24 pink capsules, followed by 4 maroon capsules (the placebos). The doctor who reported the packaging error recognized that the pills were in the wrong order, but because the impacted packages are physician samples, the people taking the pills might not know that the order is supposed to be reversed, since they’re new to the product.

Allergan

Allergan issued the following statement as part of a notice on its website: “If you are a patient in the U.S. who has used a TAYTULLA sample pack from lot 5620706, Exp. May 2019 since August 27, 2017, and are concerned that you may be impacted by this issue, please consult with your physician.”

If you have Taytulla sample packs and have questions you can call 800-678-1605 or contact the doctor who gave them to you.

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