About a million birth control pills have been recalled because packaging errors left some packets with without sufficient medication to prevent pregnancy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
As a result of the errors, Pfizer Inc. voluntarily recalled 28 lots of its birth control pills, sold in the United States.
"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," according to a company statement posted on the FDA’s Website.
Pfizer found that some packets of the drugs had too many active tablets, while others had too few.
The drug company said the recall involved 14 lots of Lo/Ovral-28 (norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) Tablets and 14 lots of Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (generic).
The recalled tablets were manufactured and packaged by Pfizer Inc., commercialized by Akrimax Rx Products and labeled under the Akrimax Pharmaceuticals brand. They were distributed to warehouses, clinics and retail pharmacies nationwide.
Women who purchased or used the products should notify their physicians and return the pills to the pharmacy, Pfizer said.
According to the company statement, the problem that led to the error has been corrected.