Adverse Events Following Misoprostol Induction of Labor

By Norman Dett, November 25th, 2009 posted in Uncategorized - No Comments »

Introduction

“Off-label” use of misoprostol (Cytotec) for labor induction has been steadily increasing for 10 years, even though this use is approved neither by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, other national drug regulatory agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, the Cochrane Library nor a number of national obstetric organizations, including the British Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Some obstetricians, particularly in the U.S., continue to promote induction with misoprostol, even though the available evidence suggests possible serious risks including uterine rupture, maternal mortality and perinatal mortality.

In January 2004, The Cochrane Library commented on the paucity of data on the serious risks of induction with misoprostol and asked for help: “The studies reviewed were not large enough to exclude the possibility of rare but serious adverse events, particularly uterine rupture, which has been reported anecdotally following misoprostol use in women with and without previous caesarean section. The authors request information on cases of uterine rupture known to readers.”(1) This paper addresses this appeal.

Misoprostol Side Effects

By Norman Dett, November 15th, 2009 posted in Uncategorized - No Comments »

Misoprostol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• diarrhea
• gas or bloating

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms call your doctor immediately. Do not take any more misoprostol until you speak to your doctor.

Abortion Pill – Misoprostol

By Norman Dett, November 7th, 2009 posted in Uncategorized - No Comments »

What is the Medical Abortion?

Medical Abortion (brand name Mifeprex) is a form of early abortion caused by the combination of two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol that is an option for women who are 8 weeks pregnant or less. Also known as RU486 or medication abortion.

During the first appointment at the clinic you receive the mifepristone pill to take orally. Then 24 to 72 hours later, in the privacy of your own home, you take the the second medication, misoprostol. Misoprostol causes contractions resulting in a miscarriage. When used in combination, mifepristone and misoprostol are 95-97% effective within two weeks. Mifepristone and misoprostol are FDA approved.

How Does It Work?

Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. Because this hormone is blocked, the uterine lining begins to shed, the cervix begins to soften and bleeding may occur. With the later addition of the second medication, misoprostol, the uterus contracts and the pregnancy is usually expelled within 6 to 8 hours.

About Misoprostol

By Norman Dett, November 1st, 2009 posted in Uncategorized - No Comments »

Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analog that is registered in over 60 countries for treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers caused by prolonged use of anti-inflammatory medications. Because misoprostol causes uterine contractions, it is useful for a variety of obstetric and gynecologic purposes. In recent years, clinicians and researchers have begun building the evidence to support its “off-label” use for a number of reproductive health indications.

What is misoprostol?

Misoprostol (brand name Cytotec) is a prostaglandin that has been approved by the FDA for the prevention of gastric ulcers due to use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Misoprostol is also widely used by obstetricians and gynecologists for the induction of labor, to soften cerix prior to instrumentation, D&C, hysteroscopy, therapeutic abortion, endometrial biopsy, and as a part of the FDA approved mifepristone regimen for the early termination of pregnancy.

Misoprostol and RU-486

By Norman Dett, October 24th, 2009 posted in Uncategorized - No Comments »

Mifepristone: The French abortion pill, also known as RU-486.

RU-486 has been used in combination with another drug called misoprostol, to terminate pregnancy at an early stage. It is used with women who are no more than 7 weeks pregnant. The drug has 95% effectiveness. About 5% of women using RU-486 in early pregnancies need additional medical intervention because of incomplete abortions. (doctors often intervene at higher rates in cases of natural miscarriages). The side effects with RU-486 are similar to those of a natural miscarriage.

Source: http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=13576

The Abortion Pill: Medical Abortion with Mifepristone and Misoprostol

By Jen Sarr, October 6th, 2009 posted in Uncategorized - No Comments »

What is the Medical Abortion?

Medical Abortion is a form of early abortion caused by the combination of two medications, mifepristone and Misoprostol that is an option for women who are 8 weeks pregnant or less. Also known as RU486 or medication abortion.

During the first appointment at the clinic you receive the mifepristone pill to take orally. Then 24 to 72 hours later, in the privacy of your own home, you take the the second medication, Misoprostol. Misoprostol causes contractions resulting in a miscarriage. When used in combination, Mifepristone and Misoprostol are 95-97% effective within two weeks. Mifepristone and Misoprostol are FDA approved.

How Does It Work?

How Misoprostol works

By Jen Sarr, October 2nd, 2009 posted in Uncategorized - No Comments »

How Misoprostol Works

Misoprostol inhibits stomach acid secretion, including increased acid secretion in response to meals and coffee. This acid-reducing activity is present for 30 minutes after oral administration and persists for at least 3 hours.

In addition, since the drug is a prostaglandin analog, misoprostol has effects on the reproductive system, dilating the cervix and producing uterine contractions.

How Misoprostol is Taken

• For gastric (stomach) ulcers, the recommended dose of misoprostol for adults is 200μg (micrograms) four times daily with food. If this dose cannot be tolerated, a lower dose of 100μg can be used.

• For gynecologic surgery or for labor induction, obstetrician/gynecologists have their patients take misoprotol tablets either by mouth or by direct application of the tablets to the cervix by placing the tablets in the vagina.

Misoprostol as a treatment for miscarriage instead of surgery

By Jen Sarr, October 2nd, 2009 posted in Uncategorized - No Comments »

A drug first used to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers in people taking certain types of painkillers offers an alternative to surgery after miscarriage, according to a study by researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health and other research institutions.

The drug, misoprostol, has been used to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers that occur in people who take certain pain relievers for arthritis. Misoprostol is now more commonly used to induce labor, as it stimulates contractions of the uterus

Study says Misoprostol can help prevent gastrointestinal problems caused by painkillers. But some doctors worry about side effects.

By Jen Sarr, September 20th, 2009 posted in Uncategorized - No Comments »

PHILADELPHIA — An existing ulcer drug can help prevent millions of people with arthritis from developing bleeding ulcers caused by over-the-counter and prescription painkillers, according to a study.

An estimated 25% of older arthritis patients who regularly take NSAIDs develop ulcers, said the Searle pharmaceutical company, which manufactures Misoprostol and partially funded the study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

“The elderly, especially those with heart disease, just can’t tolerate the stress of serious gastrointestinal complications,” said Dr. David Graham, chief of the Baylor College of Medicine’s gastroenterology department and an author of the study.

Misoprostol Information

By Jen Sarr, September 19th, 2009 posted in Uncategorized - No Comments »

Misoprostol is a drug that is used for the prevention of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric ulcers, for early abortion, to treat missed miscarriage, and to induce labor. The last use is controversial in the US .

Misoprostol is approved for use in the prevention of NSAID-induced gastric ulcers.

Misoprostol has other protective actions, but is only clinically effective at doses high enough to reduce gastric acid secretion. For instance, at lower doses Misoprostol may stimulate increased secretion of the protective mucus that lines the gastrointestinal tract and increase mucosal blood flow, thereby increasing mucosal integrity—however, these effects are not pronounced enough to warrant prescription of misoprostol at doses lower than those needed to achieve gastric acid suppression.

Misoprostol is one of the drugs used for mediacl abortion in lieu of surgical evacuation. The advantages of medical abortion over surgical abortions  include reduced invasiveness of the procedure, lack of risks from general anesthesia (which is often used for surgical abortions). Furthermore, it is less complicated to administer and less expensive.