Marvelon 28 birth control pills: Packages do not contain day-of-the-week stickers

Health Canada is informing Canadians that packages of certain lots of Marvelon 28 do not include day-of-the-week stickers. The stickers are meant to be applied on the blister pack containing the pills. The stickers indicate the first day of the week when the medication is started, and the weekdays that the pills should be taken. The stickers may be used by women to help them remember if they took their daily pill on a given day. Without these stickers, there may be an increased chance of missing a dose. This issue does not impact the safety or effectiveness of the pills. Canadians should continue to take their medication as prescribed. It is important to keep track of when you take your pills to avoid missing any doses. Merck Canada Inc. the importer of Marvelon 28, is currently working to correct this issue. Merck Canada will distribute day-of-the-week stickers to pharmacies, beginning the week of September 10. Customers who use Marvelon 28 will be able to pick up the day-of-the-week stickers at no additional cost.

Take your pills as prescribed. If your package of Marvelon 28 does not include a day-of-the-week sticker, you can: Keep track of your daily pill intake and consider using ways to remind yourself to take them, such as a daily alarm on a cellphone; Go to your pharmacy to request day-of-the week stickers. Merck Canada Inc. will start the distribution of the stickers to Canadian pharmacies the week of September 11, 2018; or Contact Merck Canada Inc. directly at 1-800-567-2594 ext. 3, or by e-mail at medinfocanada@merck.com , to request day-of-the-week stickers. Talk to a health care professional if you have questions or concerns about your birth control product, including about missed doses. Report adverse events related to health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345, or by reporting online, by mail or by fax . Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1-800-267-9675, or complete an online complaint form .