Injectable Birth Control May Lack Potency

A contraceptive injection is being recalled because of the risk of failure.

Pharmacia Corp., of Peapack, N.J., announced a voluntary recall of Lunelle Monthly Contraceptive Injection in prefilled syringes because the full potency of the contraceptive might be lacking.

Lunelle packaged in vials is not affected by this recall, nor is any other Pharmacia contraceptive product.

The injection is a combined hormonal contraceptive, like the oral contraceptive pill, that is given as a monthly injection to women by a health care professional.

Women who have been using Lunelle as their contraceptive should seek the advice of their doctor regarding alternative methods of birth control. Then they should use an additional barrier method of birth control -- such as male or female condoms, diaphragm, or spermicide -- until beginning a new form of hormonal contraception.

The injections were distributed in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during 2002 and all physicians, pharmacies, clinics and wholesalers who received these lots are being notified, the Food and Drug Administration reported.

For further information, patients may call the Pharmacia patient information service at (888) 691-6813. Health care professionals may call the Pharmacia medical information service at (800) 323-4204.