Ask Me About Abortion Pills: Miso Only

Misoprostol 200mcg

Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin that works by "replacing" prostaglandins.

This medicine causes cramping and bleeding to empty your uterus. It's kind of like having a really heavy, crampy period, and the process is very similar to an early miscarriage.

Misoprostol-only treatments are extremely safe, with 99.3% of patients not requiring hospitalization or transfusion; however they may have more side effects.

On average, the recommended protocol for misoprostol is very effective for abortion care, 93% of patients completing their abortions without additional intervention.

From a medical and scientific standpoint, banning the use of mifepristone for abortion care is senseless, especially considering its conclusively established safety and efficacy. However, offering medication abortion with misoprostol-only is also a safe, effective, and patient-centered approach that would continue to enable access to abortion care.

Use a calendar or a gestational age calculator to Measure from the first day of your last period to today.

Long term treatment with steroids (nasal, inhaled, or topical steroids are ok) Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy (severe tummy pain or severe vaginal bleeding) Bleeding problem or treatment with a blood thinner (aspirin is ok)

Take Pain Medication

You can take up to 4 200-mg ibuprofen pills or up to 2 500-mg acetaminophen pills every 6 hours as needed. Or you can take up to 2 220-mg naproxen pills every 12 hours. You can take any of these pain pills before or after misoprostol. You can take more if needed - follow the directions on the package.

If you are less 12 weeks

Use 4 misoprostol pills every 3 hours (12 pills total, see instructions below).

If no bleeding occurs after the 3rd time, you can use 4 more misoprostol pills 3 hours later

If you are 12 Weeks or more

Use 2 misoprostol pills every 3 hours until the pregnancy passes (see instructions below).

Put pills inside each cheek or under your tongue. Hold them there for 30 minutes while your body absorbs the medicine. It's ok to swallow your saliva. Then swallow the pills with a drink.

Side Effects You May Experience

INTENSE BLEEDING OR INTENSE CRAMPING.

DIZZINESS

VOMITING

DIARRHEA

NAUSEA

LIGHT FEVER AND CHILLS

HEADACHES

In most cases, the worst of the bleeding and cramping typically lasts up to 24 hours. It is common to feel tired for one to two days after taking misoprostol, but most people are able to go back to normal activities after the bleeding and cramping have stopped. If you have nausea you can use anti-nausea medication (benadryl, dramamine or zofran are examples).

If you have no cramps and bleeding after 46 hours, you can use 2 more Misoprostol pills.

An allergic reaction to either medication (rash, hives, itching, swollen or blistered skin with or without a fever, wheezing, and trouble swallowing, among others

Excessive bleeding (saturating two pads per hour for more than two hours)

Severe stomach pain