How to Use Abortion Pills (Mifepristone and Misoprostol UAE)

Mifepristone and misoprostol UAE belongs to a group of gynaecological medications called ‘Abortifacient’ used for the medical termination of the pregnancy before 63 days after the first day of the last menses period. Mifepristone+misoprostol also works in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Mifepristone+misoprostol contains two medicines, namely: Mifepristone and Misoprostol UAE. Mifepristone is an anti-hormone (anti-progestogen) that blocks the effects of the progesterone hormone required in women to continue the pregnancy. On the other hand, Misoprostol is a prostaglandin that increases the womb’s (uterus) contraction and dilates the cervix, thereby expelling the pregnancy. Thus, Mifepristone+misoprostol together cause termination of pregnancy and must be used one after the other for medical abortion.

A medical abortion generally involves 2-3 visits to a doctor or clinic, which includes giving medicines and then confirmation of termination of pregnancy. Following are the schedule involved in medical abortion:

Day 1: Medical counselling and examination where doctor instructs to take one tablet of mifepristone (200 mcg)

Day 2 to 3: You must return to the hospital/clinic 36 to 48 hours after taking the first dose of mifepristone. Your doctor will tell you about this. The tablet of Misoprostol (800 mcg) will now be given either orally or vaginally.

Day 7 to 14: The doctor will confirm and make sure whether the medical abortion has been completed or not. If the abortion is not complete, you might require more follow-up visits.

In some cases, you may experience nausea, uterine cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, infection following abortion, dizziness, and uterine bleeding. Most of these side effects of Mifepristone+misoprostol subside with time. But if vaginal bleeding does not stop, please visit the doctor immediately, as it requires immediate medical attention.

Mifepristone and misoprostol UAE should not be stopped abruptly without consulting the doctor as it may lead to incomplete abortion. Inform your doctor before starting Mifepristone+misoprostol if you have had an ectopic pregnancy (when the womb grows in the fallopian tube), using an intrauterine device, or you are breastfeeding, any bleeding disorder or heart problem. Do not strenuous activities like running, heavy exercise, or driving to avoid excessive bleeding. The doctor will also check with ultrasound if the absorption is complete as no bleeding does not mean that abortion is complete.

Mifepristone and misoprostol in UAE is used for Medical abortion. The detailed uses of Mifepristone+misoprostol are as follows:
• Medical abortion: Mifepristone+misoprostol is generally used to terminate early pregnancies safely and successfully.
• Post-Surgery Procedure: It can be prescribed after gynecological surgeries to aid uterine healing, prevent problems, and speed up recovery.
• Regulating Menstrual Cycle: Mifepristone+misoprostol might help manage irregular menstrual cycles by inducing a period.
• Managing Ectopic Pregnancy: Mifepristone+misoprostol can also be used to manage ectopic pregnancies, which require particular care from a healthcare expert.

Mifepristone works by blocking the effect of progesterone (female hormone) needed to maintain a pregnancy. In the absence of progesterone, the lining of the uterus breaks down as it does every month during the menstrual cycle, and the growth of pregnancy is stopped.

It takes approximately 24-48 hours for Mifepristone and misoprostol UAE to show effect. Once it starts acting, you will experience uterine bleeding. But no uterine bleeding does not mean that the abortion is complete.

On the other hand, the second medicine is Misoprostol, a prostaglandin analogue that helps increase uterine contractions and relaxes the cervix. Thus Together Mifepristone and misoprostol terminates the state of pregnancy. Misoprostol should be taken at least 24-36 hours after taking mifepristone, either orally or vaginally. This is a non-surgical method which is 90% successful.

Mifepristone and misoprostol UAE should be taken on an empty stomach or as advised by your doctor.

Take Mifepristone+misoprostol exactly as directed by your doctor. Misoprostol should be taken 36 to 48 hours after mifepristone.

Swallow Mifepristone + misoprostol as a whole with a glass of water.

Do not crush, break, or chew it.

Store in a cool and dry place away from sunlight

Nausea

Uterine cramps

Vomiting

Diarrhoea

Dizziness

Infection following abortion

Uterine bleeding

Drug-Drug Interactions: Mifepristone and misoprostol interacts with corticosteroids (dexamethasone), antifungal (ketoconazole, itraconazole), antibiotics (erythromycin, rifampicin),  anti-epileptic (phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine), immunosuppressants (cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus), medicines to treat migraine (ergotamine). So, Mifepristone and misoprostol should not be taken along with these drugs.

Drug-Food Interactions: Please tell your doctor about all the Vitamins, herbs, and supplements you are taking as Mifepristone + misoprostol may interact with them to produce unpleasant side effects. Also, Mifepristone + misoprostol is known to interact with St John’s Wort (a natural remedy used to treat mild depression), and grapefruit juice.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Mifepristone and Misoprostol UAE should be taken with caution in people who have a bleeding problem, confirmed or suspected ectopic pregnancy, heart problem, liver or kidney disease, vaginal bleeding, porphyria (an inherited blood disease that may cause nervous system or skin problems).

Do not take Mifepristone and misoprostol in UAE if you are allergic to misoprostol and mifepristone, have a heart fitted with an artificial valve, have heart diseases like high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol levels (increased fat in your blood), have asthma, have blood clot problems, have a bleeding disorder, have liver or kidney disease, have anaemia (low haemoglobin) or otherwise malnourished.

Taking Mifepristone and misoprostol in these conditions can cause life-threatening conditions in an individual. Mifepristone + misoprostol is known to cause sleepiness, so driving or operating machinery should not be done.

If you use contraceptive devices like the intrauterine device (IUD), please remove it before taking Mifepristone+misoprostol. Regular follow-up with the doctor is required for constant monitoring of abortion. If medical termination does not happen or becomes unsuccessful, it should be terminated surgically as it can lead to foetal defects.

Your doctor will examine by performing ultrasonography to confirm if the abortion is complete. St John’s Wort (a natural remedy used to treat mild depression) grapefruit juice should not be taken when taking Mifepristone and misoprostol UAE as it is known to interact.

Alcohol is known to cause excessive drowsiness and increases uterine bleeding if taken along with Mifepristone + misoprostol.

Pregnancy: Mifepristone + misoprostol is used for medical abortion. If taken in pregnancy, it can lead to abortion.

Breast Feeding: Mifepristone + misoprostol should not be taken if breastfeeding as it may pass through the milk to the baby.

Driving is unsafe when taking Mifepristone + misoprostol as it might increase the risk of excessive bleeding.

Liver: Mifepristone and misoprostol UAE to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.

Kidney: Mifepristone + misoprostol to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.

Children: Mifepristone and Misoprostol UAE is not recommended for children below the age of 12. The safety and effectiveness of Mifepristone + misoprostol have not been established in children due to limited testing of this drug on children by competent authorities worldwide. If necessary, your doctor will decide whether to give Mifepristone + misoprostol or not.

Get an ultrasound to check whether medical abortion is done completely to avoid unwanted complications.

Monitor your blood pressure daily and if there is too much fluctuation, then immediately contact your doctor.

There might be a possibility of becoming pregnant again immediately after the pregnancy termination is complete. It would be best if you started using contraceptives for at least ten days of taking the mifepristone tablet. It is better to discuss contraceptive options with your doctor.

If you are (Rh factor negative), the use of Mifepristone and Misoprostol UAE requires special measures which are taken to prevent Rhesus (Rh) factor sensitisation. So, if you are Rhesus negative, let your doctor know about this before using Mifepristone and misoprostol UAE.