Medicines
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warning!
doxycycline
Doxycycline is an antibiotic of the
tetracycline family used to treat many
different infections.
Important: Do not take with milk or
other dairy products or with antacids.
Take pills while sitting up and with lots
of water. Stay out of the sun or you may
get a rash.
Side effects: Diarrhea, upset stomach.
May cause yeast infection in women or
diaper rash in children.
Often comes in: tablets of 50 and
100 mg.
How to use:
For infection after abortion (see
p. 410), give 100 mg by mouth
2 times a day for 10 days.
Other drugs that may work:
amoxicillin, metronidazole.
WARNING: Women who are
pregnant or breastfeeding
should not take this medicine.
Doxycycline may not be safe to
use after it has passed its
expiration date.
ergometrine
(ergonovine, methylergonovine)
Ergometrine causes contractions of the
womb and its blood vessels and is used
to control heavy bleeding after
childbirth or an abortion.
Side effects: Nausea, vomiting,
dizziness, sweating.
Often comes in: tablets of 0.2 mg; in
vials for injection of 0.2, 0.25, and 0.5 mg
in 1 ml.
How to use:
For heavy bleeding after childbirth
(see p. 231), give 0.2 mg by mouth every
6 to 12 hours,
or inject 0.2 mg in muscle every 6 to
12 hours.
For heavy bleeding after an abortion
(see p. 408), inject 0.2 mg in the muscle,
or give 0.2 mg by mouth.
Other drugs that may work:
misoprostol, oxytocin.
WARNING: Do not use
ergometrine to start or speed up
labor or to cause an abortion.
Do not give this drug before the
baby and the placenta have
come out.
480
A Book for Midwives (2010)