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Medicines
mifepristone
Mifepristone can be used with
misoprostol or other medicines to end
a pregnancy in the first 9 weeks.
Important: It is best to be close to
medical help when taking this medicine
in case it does not empty the womb
completely.
Often comes in: tablets of 200 mg.
How to use:
See directions for using with
misoprostol below.
Other drugs that may work:
misoprostol.
WARNING: If this medicine
does not end the pregnancy
completely, the womb must
be emptied by MVA or
D&C abortion.
misoprostol
Misoprostol helps empty the womb or
stop heavy bleeding after a birth.
Important: Misoprostol is usually
used with another medicine called
mifepristone to end a pregnancy.
Used by itself, misoprostol may not
completely empty the womb. An
abortion caused by misoprostol may
take several hours to several days to
finish.
After an incomplete abortion,
misoprostol can empty the womb and
help save a woman’s life.
Wetting misoprostol tablets before
giving them may make them more
effective.
continued . . .
misoprostol continued
Side effects: Nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, headache. If the woman is
breastfeeding, misoprostol will cause
diarrhea in infants.
Often comes in: tablets of 100 or
200 micrograms.
How to use:
For delivering the placenta (see p. 228),
give 600 micrograms by mouth.
To slow heavy bleeding after a birth
(see p. 231), or for incomplete abortion
(see p. 408), give 600 micrograms by
mouth by putting tablets against each
cheek or under the tongue until they
dissolve, then swallow. If the woman
cannot swallow, insert pills in her
rectum where they will dissolve and be
absorbed. Wear a glove. Either way,
you can repeat the dose 24 hours later if
necessary.
To end a pregnancy with misoprostol
and mifepristone (see p. 408), give
200 mg mifepristone by mouth and
then 2 days later give 800 micrograms of
misoprostol by mouth or in the rectum,
as for incomplete abortion above.
or if you do not have mifepristone,
give 800 micrograms misoprostol by
mouth or in the rectum once a day for
2 days. Be ready to get medical help if
the womb does not empty completely.
WARNING: Do not use
misoprostol to empty the womb
(end a pregnancy) after the
3rd month.
Never use misoprostol to speed
up or start a labor. It could cause
the womb to tear open.
A Book for Midwives (2010)
485