The pills were distributed between September 21 and December 30, according to Glenmark. The ingredients of the pills are norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol. The amount of pills or packages recalled was not announced.
According to the company, in some of the packages, pills were not inserted in the proper sequence. Lot numbers and expiration dates were difficult to see, the company said.
A similar birth control pill recall was announced by Pfizer on February 1. Approximately 1 million packets of pills were recalled.
A month's supply of birth control pills contains three different medications that are each taken one a day for a week, and a week's worth of inert pills. If the pills are taken out of order, they may not work. Glenmark's pills were intended to be taken in this order: seven off-white tablets, seven light blue tablets and seven blue tablets, followed by a week of green placebo pills.
When taken properly, birth control pills are nearly 100 percent effective.
Check Glenmark Generics' website, www.glenmark-generics.com, to find out the lot numbers of the affected packs of Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets USP, 0.18 mg/0.035 mg, 0.215 mg/0.035 mg, 0.25 mg/0.035 mg (Generic).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
