Unsafe Drugs: Wyeth's "No Period" Birth Control Approved

Lybrel, Wyeth's new oral contraceptive that eliminates the monthly bleeding associated with the menstruation cycle, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA says that no excessive risks have been seen in those taking Lybrel: "The risks of using Lybrel are similar to the risks of other conventional oral contraceptives and include an increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes."

Wyeth Contraceptive Approved

Wyeth plans to conduct a post-marketing survey to see if Lybrel causes any other side effects that are more severe than those caused by other contraceptives. However, Dr. Daniel Shames, a deputy director at the FDA's office of drug evaluation, says that "we don't expect any surprises." The main concern for women on Lybrel is that, because the drug eliminates regular periods, women may have trouble recognizing if they are pregnant. Lybrel will become available in July.