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How Misoprostol Is Used To Terminate Pregnancy?

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Posted on Mon, 12 May 2014
Question: hi, i took mifepristone from the feston kit at 9 pm and after 12 hours at 9 am the next day i took two tabs of misoprostol as prescribed by my pharmacist. After that i started to have my periods and bleeding continued the whole day and stopped by night. The next morning bleeding started again. Do i take the second dose of misoprostol (two tabs) if yes, when should i take it. Also i tool misoprostol also orally, will that harm me in any way.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer: AS BELOW Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for writing to us with your health concern. It is very sad that in our country , even pharmacists are openly providing drugs, it is unethical and a very dangerous practice. You MUST consult a gynaecologist and only then proceed for abortion. There are various reasons for this, which I will explain to you in detail. 1. The pregnancy must be confirmed by a doctor, apart from a home test kit. Rarely, there are chances of ectopic pregnancy ( pregnancy outside the uterus ) which can be life threatening for you. 2. THe pregnancy should be accurately dated, as the medical abortion pills work only within a narrow time frame. 3. The pills should be taken by prescription and under guidance from a doctor. Generally one tablet of Mifepristone followed by 4 tablets of Misoprostol are taken . Mifepristone is oral and Misoprostol is given vaginally / orally. On taking the pills, you would have heavy bleeding with cramps, expulsion of a fleshy mass within 24 - 48 hours, which might continue for a week , or more. If you vomit the pills, repeat dosage is required. There is always 4 % chance of failure, in which case , you will need surgical abortion. Risks such as severe bleeding, infection, hypotension, fainting , incomplete abortion etc are present, so please do not attempt to do anything on your own without consulting your doctor. 4. After completing the course of medical abortion pills, a follow up visit and ultrasound scan after 15 days is compulsory to document that the abortion was complete and there is nothing retained inside the uterine cavity. 5. Please use reliable method of contraception in future to avoid risk of abortion. There are various regimens for use of these medications. The second dose of misoprostol tablets is a must, you have to take the set of two tablets the second time around. There is no harm in taking them orally instead of vaginally, both ways work fine. It is NOT recommended to do what you did, or plan to do, without consulting a gynaecologist first. All the best PLease feel free to discuss further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (43 minutes later)
Thanks for your guidance Dr XXXXXXX Will surely follow all your advise. Can you pls tell me when to take the second dose of misoprostol. As mentioned, i took the first dose of misoprostol 12 hours after taking mifepristone (one tab). So when should i take the second dose of misoprostol.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (3 hours later)
Brief Answer: 24 HOURS AFTER 1ST DOSE. Detailed Answer: Hi again You can take it 24 hours later, that is, 24 hours after the first dose of Misoprostol.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Aarti Abraham

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Practicing since :1998

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How Misoprostol Is Used To Terminate Pregnancy?

Brief Answer: AS BELOW Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for writing to us with your health concern. It is very sad that in our country , even pharmacists are openly providing drugs, it is unethical and a very dangerous practice. You MUST consult a gynaecologist and only then proceed for abortion. There are various reasons for this, which I will explain to you in detail. 1. The pregnancy must be confirmed by a doctor, apart from a home test kit. Rarely, there are chances of ectopic pregnancy ( pregnancy outside the uterus ) which can be life threatening for you. 2. THe pregnancy should be accurately dated, as the medical abortion pills work only within a narrow time frame. 3. The pills should be taken by prescription and under guidance from a doctor. Generally one tablet of Mifepristone followed by 4 tablets of Misoprostol are taken . Mifepristone is oral and Misoprostol is given vaginally / orally. On taking the pills, you would have heavy bleeding with cramps, expulsion of a fleshy mass within 24 - 48 hours, which might continue for a week , or more. If you vomit the pills, repeat dosage is required. There is always 4 % chance of failure, in which case , you will need surgical abortion. Risks such as severe bleeding, infection, hypotension, fainting , incomplete abortion etc are present, so please do not attempt to do anything on your own without consulting your doctor. 4. After completing the course of medical abortion pills, a follow up visit and ultrasound scan after 15 days is compulsory to document that the abortion was complete and there is nothing retained inside the uterine cavity. 5. Please use reliable method of contraception in future to avoid risk of abortion. There are various regimens for use of these medications. The second dose of misoprostol tablets is a must, you have to take the set of two tablets the second time around. There is no harm in taking them orally instead of vaginally, both ways work fine. It is NOT recommended to do what you did, or plan to do, without consulting a gynaecologist first. All the best PLease feel free to discuss further.