The Ministry of Health warns about the discovery of fake contraceptive pills, Norgylen tablets, in Cañas Guanacaste. Women who use this pills must verify the authenticity of their purchase and avoid unwanted pregnancies as well as adverse reactions.
The situation was announced after the pharmaceutical company, Gutis Ltda., Informed the ministry that they detected fake pills as a result of a refund managed by a private pharmacy located in Cañas de Guanacaste. These are lots that have not been manufactured by that laboratory and do not comply with the numbering established by the company. The pharmacy requested the return for apparent quality defects in two batches of the product.
A counterfeit drug of any kind can put people’s lives at risk, warns the Ministry of Health. In this case, the composition of the counterfeit tablets is unknown, so consumers might get pregnant, or develop adverse reactions due to possibly toxic or contaminated ingredients.
Norgylen pills are manufactured in Costa Rica by Gutis Ltda., and are also registered in other countries. They are used as an oral contraceptive for its hormonal active ingredients: levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol.
It is important to clarify that there is a special presentation offered by the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), which consists only of the card with the blister. In the private market, it comes in a box with an insert and a small bag that contains the blister. In all presentations, the package contains 21 tablets.