Dosage of Misoprostol (Cytotec) abortion pill before 12 week of pregnancy

These recommendations for Misoprostol (Cytotec) as abortion pill were produced by a WHO (World Health Organization) expert group in Bellagio, Italy in Feb 2007. These recommendations do not reflect official WHO guidelines because studies of use Misoprostol (Cytotec) as abortion pill is not completed and still continue.

The full text of this material issued by A. Faúndes, C. Fiala, OS. Tang, A. Velasco and named "Misoprostol for the termination of pregnancy up to 12 completed weeks of pregnancy" in International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 2007, 99-supp 2. The english language original as read-only pdf file can be found here. Adobe Acrobat need for view pdf documents.

For termination unwanted pregnancy up to 12 completed weeks with Misoprostol (Cytotec) alone you have to take Misoprostol (Cytotec):

vaginally of 800mg repeated up to 3 times at 6 or 12 or 24 hours intervals

or

800mg orally (sublingual) at 3-hour intervals

 

The oral use of Misoprostol (Cytotec) is better accepted and have the same effectiveness mainly, with more frequent side effects.

But few studies shows when Misoprostol (Cytotec) is used alone, the oral route is less effective than vaginal if Misoprostol (Cytotec) is used every 12 hours. Vaginal administration should therefore be chosen unless there are reasons to avoid it. The sublingual route is a reasonable alternative and may be used as second choice.

 

How to take Misoprostol (Cytotec) vaginally

The vaginal way use of Misoprostol (Cytotec) means: you have to use your fingers to put tablets as deep as possible in the back where the womb starts.

Keep in minds, Misoprostol (Cytotec) tablets will not work if placed in the entrance of the vagina. Is advised to moisture the tablets before use. The Misoprostol (Cytotec) pills work better if they are made wet before placed into the vagina.

If you live in country where abortion is prosecuted, you may have a problems, and you have a complication, carefully check your vagina use your fingers to determine if tablets have dissolved. If tablets not dissolved, remove any pieces and only then go to the hospital.

 

How to take Misoprostol (Cytotec) orally

The oral way use of Misoprostol (Cytotec) means: you have to place tablets under lingua (sublingual method) or in the space between gum and cheek (buccally).

You have not to swallow the pills. Usually Misoprostol (Cytotec) have to dissolve in the mouth for 30 minutes and you may swallow the pills after this time only.

The small advantage to taking Misoprostol (Cytotec) bucally (the pills to dissolve in the space between the gum and cheek) is in case if a woman is scared to take medicine vaginally due concerned she may need help a hospital staff. In this way, any remains of the pills can be found in case she may need to go to a hospital. But if Misoprostol (Cytotec) pills takes bucally, need to remember not to swallow the pills.

 

When effect will be achieve

In the majority of cases, expulsion of the product of conception occurs hours after use of Misoprostol (Cytotec):

• around 70% women have complete abortion within the first 12 hours
• around 80% have complete abortion during the first 24 hours
• around 95% have complete abortion within 48 hours

after the initial dose.

However, there maybe a large variability highly depending on route, dose, woman condition and time interval between Misoprostol (Cytotec) doses with time for complete abortion up to 72 hours.