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February 9, 2012 |
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Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E<sub>1</sub> (PGE<sub>1</sub>) analogue used for the treatment and prevention of peptic ulcer|stomach ulcers. It is currently marketed by Pfizer under the trade name Cytotec. When administered, misoprostol stimulates increased secretion of the protective mucus that lines the gastrointestinal tract and increases mucosal blood flow, thereby increasing mucosal integrity. It is sometimes co-prescribed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to prevent the occurrence of gastric ulceration, a common adverse effect of the NSAIDs. More common adverse effects of misopristol include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, chills, shivering and fever. Although not licensed for the indication (over 60% of the drugs that American doctors prescribe are not used for a licensed indication), misoprostol is commonly prescribed to expedite the onset of labor (childbirth)|labor by causing childbirth|uterine contractions and the ripening (opening) of the cervix. Other prostaglandins very similar to Misoprostol have been approved by the FDA for this purpose. The drug is highly effective and much less expensive than the other FDA-approved drugs for this purpose. As with any drug there can be complications; high doses can cause fetus|fetal death and uterus|uterine rupture. Misoprostol is one of the drugs used for medical (non-surgical) termination of pregnancy (see abortion). It is used in conjunction with mifepristone (RU-486). After mifepristone is taken orally, misoprostol is taken 24-72 hours later causing the expulsion of the fetus and associated matter in over 98% of the cases. In some cases, Misoprostol is used to expel a dead embryo or fetus in a miscarriage. Misoprostol alone has been shown to be highly effective (about 90%) in inducing an abortion, and it is used for self-induced abortions in many countries where abortions are illegal. This method is especially common in South American countries where Misoprostol is available from pharmacies for other medical indications. Poor immigrant populations in New York have also been observed to use self-administered Misoprostol to induce abortions, as this method is much cheaper than a surgical abortion (about $2 per dose). (Leland 2005) If abortion became illegal in the United States, this is a likely method that would be widely used to illegally induce abortion. There is a serious risk that, when the method is not successful, the fetus can be born with severe physical abnormalities.
Category:Abortifacients Category:Gastroenterology Category:Gynecology Category:Prostaglandins pt:Misoprostol es:Misoprostol This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Misoprostol".
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