Labor Induction
Misoprostol is commonly used for labor induction. It causes uterine contractions and the ripening (effacement or thinning) of the cervix. It is important to note however that the drug is NOT FDA approved for use on pregnant women. It has been known to cause uterine rupture and has on several occasions led to the death of both mother and baby. The FDA has even issued a warning that Misoprostol/Cytotec should not be used to induce labor. Misoprostol is more effective in starting labor than other drugs used for labor induction. It is also significantly less expensive than the other commonly used ripening agent, dinoprostone (trade names Cervidil and Prepidil).
Oxytocin (trade names Pitocin and Syntocinon) has long been used as the standard agent for labor induction, but doesn't work well when the cervix is not yet ripe. In addition to being used alone to induce labor, misoprostol may be used in conjunction with oxytocin.
Protocols for inducing labor with misoprostol typically call for 25 μg to be administered vaginally. In countries where the only approved use of misoprostol is ulcer prevention, misoprostol is not sold in tablets smaller than 100 μg. When used for induction, the 100 μg tablet is commonly split into two or four pieces.
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