What it means
A man-made form of prostaglandin E1. It was first used to prevent stomach ulcers in people taking NSAIDs. In maternity care it is used to soften (ripen) the cervix before induction of labor, to treat heavy bleeding after birth, and with mifepristonemif-eh-PRIS-toneA drug that blocks the hormone progesterone, used with misoprostol to end an early pregnancy, and for some hormone disorders.Full entry to end an early pregnancy. Common side effects are diarrhea and belly cramps; fever and chills can follow higher doses.
For the nurse
When used for ulcer prevention, people who can become pregnant must not be pregnant and should use birth control, since it can cause miscarriage. During labor induction, watch contractions and the fetal heart rate closely for too-frequent contractions.
At a glance
| Drug class | prostaglandin E1 analog |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Cytotec |
| Spanish | misoprostol |
| Also written | Cytotec |
Related terms
ulcer
An open sore where the skin or the lining of an organ has broken down.
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
A drug that relieves pain, fever and inflammation and is not a steroid, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
mifepristone
A drug that blocks the hormone progesterone, used with misoprostol to end an early pregnancy, and for some hormone disorders.