Why Misoprostol (Cytotec) abortion pills?

Currently exist 3 methods of medication abortion, used for pregnancy termination with gestational ages up to 22 weeks:

• 1) Misoprostol alone
• 2) Mifepristone and Misoprostol
• 3) Methotrexate and Misoprostol

This page give you basic understanding of abortion drugs and you will see the difference between these three methods.

Before all, as you can see, all three methods include medicine named Misoprostol. Formally, in the United States Misoprostol is a FDA-approved drug for the prevention gastric ulcers. The Misoprostol is widely approved medicine and well know worldwide. Misoprostol was develop and marketed by G.D. Searle & Company (now Pfizer) under the trade name Cytotec. Currently many countries around the world have available Cytotec under other brand names.

Exist off-label use of Misoprostol (Cytotec) that widely used abortifacient (medication abortion) to induce labor. Some countries already approve Misoprostol exactly as abortion medicine. Misoprostol act to cause labor induction by promoting uterine contractions and effacement (thinning) of the cervix. Misoprostol today is considered to be the most affordable solution than any other abortion pills.

How abortion pills to work

Each medication abortion drug has a unique mechanism of action.

Mifepristone acting as antiprogestogen, work with receptor to block progesterone hormone. Progesterone hormone is necessary for maintenance of pregnancy. Mifepristone is also softens and dilates the cervix that causes placental detachment. In addition, Mifepristone increase uterine contractions.

Methotrexate blocks a specific enzyme with result of inhibiting the growth of placental cells.

Both these drugs (mifespristone and methotrexate) are used with a prostaglandin drug Misoprostol that caused medication abortion and help Misoprostol in his action. Misoprostol works by softening and dilating the cervix, with results of strong uterine contractions. These contractions cause expulsion of the embryo from uterus.

Use Misoprostol alone as abortion medication begin from the 1970s. Alone, Misoprostol has a some higher rate of unsuccessful abortion than combination Misoprostol with Mifepristone or Methotrexate.

Detailed description how Misoprostol (Cytotec) to work can be found here.

Below you can find pro and contra for each three methods of medication abortion that help to compare it at a glance.

Misoprostol and Mifepristone combination

Mifepristone is used as an abortifacient (induces abortion) medicine for the first 2 months of pregnancy. In smaller doses Mifepristone used as an emergency contraceptive. Mifepristone also used as a treatment for obstetric bleeding. Mifepristone was created by Roussel Uclaf company under name RU-486 and was initially made available in France.

Currently Mifepristone is marketed and distributed by Exelgyn Laboratories under the tradename Mifegyne for France and countries other than the United States. In the United States Mifepristone sold by Danco Laboratories under the tradename Mifeprex. No matter how Mifepristone named as brand name, this drug is still commonly referred under "RU-486" name.

Mifepristone is taken orally and blocks the action of progesterone with such results as thinning of uteral lining, pregnancy detachment, cervical dilation and softening, uterine contractions. Subsequent use of Misoprostol (orally or vaginally) have results in contractions of uterine and expulsion of the products of conception.

Misoprostol and Methotrexate combination

Methotrexate is inhibitor for enzyme caused block DNA synthesis. Methotrexate often use with the implantation process and given by injection or taken orally. Currently Methotrexate often is use as a treatment for some autoimmune diseases.

Methotrexate (formerly known as amethopterin) is drug used in treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Methotrexate acts by inhibiting the metabolism of folic acid. Methotrexate was originally used to treat many kinds of cancers as part of combination chemotherapy regimens, and is still the mainstay for the treatment of many disorders including acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Off-label use of Methotrexate (in combination with Misoprostol) is termination early pregnancies, particularly ectopic pregnancies. In case of early missed miscarriage (particularly a blighted ovum), in which fetal demise has occurred but the body has not expelled the fetus, Methotrexate used to help the body begin the miscarriage process.

Misoprostol alone

Common use of Misoprostol as abortion medication is serial administration (orally or vaginally), with results in uterine contractions and expulsion of the products of conception.

Misoprostol is a FDA-approved drug and used in the United States for the prevention of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gastric ulcers. Limited number of countries is approve Misoprostol for use as an abortifacient medication. Misoprostol marketed by G.D. Searle & Company (now Pfizer) under the trade name Cytotec.

Misoprostol is widely produced and many formulations are now available. Currently other brand names of Cytotec are: Arthrotec, Citotec, Cyprostol, Gymiso, Misotrol, Mibetec, Oxaprost, Prostokos and few other. Sometimes Misoprostol is available over the counter without a prescription. Sometimes a prescription is asked.

Misoprostol is cheap and easy to administer, is available in many countries. Many studies show the Misoprostol range of efficacy is up to 93% depending on sample size, gestational age, use (orally or vaginally), and few other conditions. Commonly, Misoprostol alone may be more effective in earlier gestation, and combinations Misoprostol with Methotrexate or Mifepristone to help increase success rate a bit.

Advantages described above make Misoprostol affordable medication abortion solution, particularly in developing countries. Misoprostol, used alone, has a bit lower efficacy rate than combined regimens.