A shortage of two popular brands of birth control pills should be over soon, a family doctor told CBC News on Wednesday.

Dr. Dara Maker said drugstores in Canada are still out of stock of Triphasil pills, but she has been told supplies should be replenished in three weeks.

Stocks of Alesse, meanwhile, are already 50 per cent restored. In three weeks, Alesse should be fully restocked.

"Most drug stores are dispensing it at about one pack at a time, so most women can get their Alesse," said Maker, who works for Women's College Hospital in Toronto.

Maker has been in contact with Wyeth, the American pharmaceutical giant that makes both brands of pills. The shortage occurred after a production problem in one of Wyeth's plants in South America in August.

Maker said women who are having trouble getting their prescriptions filled should talk to their doctors about the possibility of switching brands.

She said there are 15 to 20 different kinds of pills available in Canada and chances are women can find a substitute pill that will suit their needs.

She said there is absolutely no health risk to making a switch.

"It can be very anxiety-provoking, especially if women have tried a couple of pills and finally found one that seems to suit them," she said. "But there are no health risks to changing pills, they just might get a few side-effects when they try a new one."

Switching brands is safe

She said women can switch brands for one month and switch back when stocks of Alesse and Triphasil are replenished.

"But some women might find if they switch they are actually happier with the new pill," she said. "They might find the side-effect profile is better for them, that they're happier with the new pack."

She said she would advise women to keep an extra pack of birth control pills in storage, just in case. Birth control pills don't usually expire for a year or two, she said.

She also suggested women should never wait to the last minute to refill a birth control prescription. They should see their pharmacist at least a week before their last pack runs out.

"Because on any given day your particular drug store may be short of whichever pill you're using."