misoprostol at a glance
Medicine class
Synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogue and uterotonic.
Licensed role
Induction of labour using the selected oral product.
Care setting
Given by trained obstetric staff in hospital with fetal and uterine monitoring available.
Administration
Swallowed whole with water; the score line is not intended for breaking.
What is misoprostol used for?
The selected product has one licensed indication. Other uses require specialist protocols and product assessment.
Licensed: induction of labour in a hospital obstetric setting.
Specialist context outside the selected product licence: medical management of confirmed early miscarriage.
Specialist context outside the selected product licence: abortion care, often within a clinician-directed pathway involving mifepristone.
How does misoprostol work?
Misoprostol is converted to active misoprostol acid. It promotes cervical softening and opening and stimulates uterine muscle contraction, helping labour begin.
misoprostol preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 25 micrograms, 200 micrograms
How to take misoprostol
The selected product is administered by trained obstetric staff in hospital. Follow the maternity team's instructions rather than taking it independently.
Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
Do not break it along the score line.
Food does not change overall exposure, although it slows absorption.
Maternal contractions and the baby's heart rate are monitored during treatment.
misoprostol side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Chills or raised temperature
- Contractions that are too strong, frequent or prolonged
- Bleeding after delivery
- Meconium staining of the amniotic fluid
- Changes in the baby's heart rate
Get urgent medical advice
- Uterine rupture
- Premature separation of the placenta
- Fetal acidosis, oxygen deprivation or other fetal compromise
- Severe or persistent uterine hyperstimulation
- Heavy postpartum bleeding
misoprostol in pregnancy
The selected product is intended for clinically indicated labour induction late in pregnancy. Earlier-pregnancy use belongs within specialist miscarriage or abortion care; if a pregnancy continues after misoprostol exposure, prompt clinical review is important because birth defects have occasionally been reported.
misoprostol while breastfeeding
Misoprostol acid can enter breast milk, but levels fall quickly. Follow the maternity team's advice about the brief pause required before starting or resuming breastfeeding after the selected product.
misoprostol interactions
Formal interaction studies have not been performed for the selected product. The clinically important interaction is additive stimulation of the uterus.
Oxytocin
Concurrent use is contraindicated because the combined uterotonic effect may cause excessive contractions; obstetric staff must separate their use.
Other labour-induction or oxytocic agents
Concurrent administration may increase uterine stimulation and is contraindicated for the selected product.
Common questions about misoprostol
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why is misoprostol used to induce labour?
It softens and opens the cervix while stimulating uterine contractions, helping labour begin.
Is misoprostol for labour induction given at home?
The selected product must be administered by trained obstetric staff in hospital, where maternal and fetal monitoring is available.
Can misoprostol tablets for labour induction be split?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.