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Can Cytotec Or Misoprostol Be Taken To Allow A Miscarriage To Pass?

Posted on Mon, 31 Aug 2015

Question: Miscarriage at 19 weeks. If I try to induce labor by using cytotec or misoprostol 800mcg vaginally will this allow the stillborn to pass?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (56 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
it will allow to pass.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to HCM,

I can understand your concerns,

At 19weeks, misoprostol 800mcg will allow to pass conceptus.

In my opinion, first you should get ultrasound to rule out low lying placenta.In presence of it, bleeding chances are more.

Secondly, there are different methods to induce miscarriage in 2nd trimester.
1.you should take mifepristone 600mg followed by 400mcg misoprostol after 6hours and again can repeat 400mcg misoprostol after 6hours.most women responses with one dose of misoprostol.
2.or mechanical cervical dilatation followed by explusion of products by oxytocin or misoprostol.
Consult your gynecologist.

These procedures should be done under your gynecologist supervision. As it is not safe to take tablets on her own.

Hope it helps.
Feel free to ask further.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (34 minutes later)

cytotec is the same as misoprostol correct? and how far in the pregnancy is it safe to use this technique?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
under your doctor supervision it is safe.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Cytotec and misoprostol are same.

Taking regime for abortion with out doctor supervision is not safe as it can cause heavy bleeding, incomplete abortion,sepsis.

Though there are complications(as mentioned above) with this techniques ,Under your Gynecologist guidance, it is safe to go for abortion.

Hope it helps.
Feel free to ask further.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (3 hours later)

if there is an incomplete abortion, what happens next?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
treated medically or surgically.

Detailed Answer:
Sorry for the late response.

If there is incomplete abortion, it would be confirmed either by ultrasound or there is continuous bleeding for more than 2 weeks.

If incomplete abortion is confirmed, it would be treated either by giving misoprostol 200mg twice a day for three days or by dilatation and curettage.

Kindly discuss this with your doctor.

Hope this helps.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (43 minutes later)

ok I thought If the abortion was incomplete and I was went to the hospital that they would just surgically remove the fetus.

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
depends on choice of doctor.

Detailed Answer:
It would be the decision of treating doctor.
If he wishes to give a trial of drugs, there is always a possibility of this.

If he feels surgical procedure is better, he can opt for that.

Hope this is of some help.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (10 minutes later)

Oh ok the reason why I assumed this is because I know that heavy bleeding is associated with the medical abortion. So I assumed that if the there is heavy bleeding and the abortion is incomplete that the doctors would just remove the fetus to make sure this is no more bleeding or infection.

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
will depend on ultrasound report.

Detailed Answer:
First the abortion would be confirmed by ultrasound.

Then any further step would be taken depending on the ultrasound report.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (5 hours later)

Ok, can I take one dose of the misoprostol orally by mouth and still be effective?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
its effective orally also.

Detailed Answer:
One dose of misoprostol is insufficient.
You will have to take another tablet within 6 hours.

Total dose of misoprostol to work effectively is 4 tablets or 800mg in total.

Its effective orally also.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (56 minutes later)

Ok so I can take 4 tablets orally and another 4 within 6 hours. When I say orally that means I can just swallow the tablets?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
4 tablets of misoprostol in total.

Detailed Answer:
You can take 2 tablets of misoprostol at once followed by 2 more tablets 6 hours later.

Ideally, the tablets should be kept below the tongue (taken sublingually).

If this is uncomfortable for you, then you can even swallow them. This will work as well.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (16 minutes later)

Ok good cause I didn't feel to comfortable with the other options but if swallowing works just as well I think I can try that method if I'm not brave enough. So swallowing 4 at one time is not recommended?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
4 tablets together can cause excessive bleeding.

Detailed Answer:
With 4 drugs together, there can be too much of uterine contractions leading to excessive bleeding and abdominal cramps.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (35 minutes later)

Oh I thought we wanted there to be excessive blood but I guess that means it will be too much. can I take the pills with food or should they be taken without anything?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
can be taken with or without food.

Detailed Answer:
The pills can be taken with or without food.

Food does not affect the absorption of pills.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (17 minutes later)

ok and also can the pills be crushed or is it best to keep them whole?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
do not crush

Detailed Answer:
It is best to take the pills as whole.
Do not chew or crush the pills.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (3 hours later)

what effect will crushing the pill have?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
might loose its efficacy

Detailed Answer:
The drug might loose its efficacy.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (17 minutes later)

Oh so I can just use 4 tablets if I'm using it crushed?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
do not crush

Detailed Answer:
Do not crush the pills.
You have to take two pills at once followed by another 6 hours later, total dose being 800mcg.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (10 hours later)

Ok I will talk to my Gynecologist as you stated. my last question is how long can I wait to do this procedure? 24 weeks?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
safe till 24 weeks.

Detailed Answer:
24 weeks is the time upto which abortion is considered safe.

Your Gynecologist would be the best judge to choose an appropriate method for you.

Kindly follow his/her advice.
You can share our discussion with him/her.

Hope to have answered your queries satisfactorily.

Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.

Thanks.

Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar