BayB614
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/09 807 total posts
Name:
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cytotec warning
Hi ladies, sorry to crash the PG boards; I have been ttc for the past 6 months and have been reading and researching a lot.
anyways, I came across this post on babycenter.com and felt like I should share this info:
shall1105 Posted 7/2/09
I thought more people knew about this, I found out about it on the news during my first pregnancy. But apparently its coming up on other boards and it is still being used for whatever reason.
Cytotec is a drug (misoprostol) is a drug used for ulcers. Somewhere along the line drs discovered that it causes contractions and started using it to induce labor. It has NOT been approved by the FDA for this use. There have been NO studies done proving that it is safe for this use. But for whatever reason, Drs are still using it.
All of the drug info sites say this: " Labor and delivery: Cytotec can induce or augment uterine contractions. Vaginal administration of Cytotec, outside of its approved indication, has been used as a cervical ripening agent, for the induction of labor and for treatment of serious postpartum hemorrhage in the presence of uterine atony.
A major adverse effect of the obstetrical use of Cytotec is the hyperstimulation of the uterus which may progress to uterine tetany with marked impairment of uteroplacental blood flow, uterine rupture (requiring surgical repair, hysterectomy, and/or salpingo-oophorectomy), or amniotic fluid embolism.
Pelvic pain, retained placenta, severe genital bleeding, shock, fetal bradycardia, and fetal and maternal death have been reported. There may be an increased risk of uterine tachysystole, uterine rupture, meconium passage, meconium staining of amniotic fluid, and Cesarean delivery due to uterine hyperstimulation with the use of higher doses of Cytotec, including the manufactured 100 mcg tablet.
The risk of uterine rupture increases with advancing gestational ages and with prior uterine surgery, including Cesarean delivery. Grand multiparity also appears to be a risk factor for uterine rupture.
The effect of Cytotec on later growth, development, and functional maturation of the child when Cytotec is used for cervical ripening or induction of labor has not been established. Information on Cytotec's effect on the need for forceps delivery or other intervention is unknown."
In August 2000, Searle, Cytotec's manufacturer, sent physicians a letter reminding them that Cytotec was not approved for use as a cervical ripening agent and that it was contraindicated for use in pregnancy (14). The letter listed serious adverse effects associated with using Cytotec, including maternal or fetal death, uterine rupture, and severe vaginal bleeding and shock. There have been cases of women dieing after being given this drug to induce labor.
http://www.cytoteccase.com/
http://www.rxlist.com/cytotec-drug.htm
http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,6xr4,00.html
http://www.ican-online.org/pregnancy/misoprostol-cytotec-labor-induction-a-cautionary-tale
I urge everyone to discuss with the Drs rather or not this drug is used in your hospital and make sure it is not used on you without your consent.
After reading in books and articles about the dangers of using cytotec for labor and birth, I thought that it was no longer being used... I was surprised to hear it still sometimes is. 
Please keep this info in mind, and I wish all of you happy, healthy, and safe births!! 
Message edited 7/28/2009 11:29:10 AM.
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