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Abortion Pills and Medications

Other names: Medical abortion; Pregnancy termination

Two abortion pills are commonly used for medical abortion and have been authorized by the FDA for use in the first 70 days (10 weeks) of pregnancy: mifepristone and misoprostol. The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is the most common regimen used in the U.S. but internationally, some countries just use misoprostol alone. Note that dispensing these pills for pregnancy termination is now banned in some states. Other medications such as carboprost, hemabate, or oxytocin, may also be used during pregnancy termination.

  • Mifepristone (Mifeprex, RU-486) works by blocking progesterone, which is essential for a pregnancy to develop. This prevents the existing pregnancy from progressing.
  • Misoprostol is then taken 24–48 hours after mifepristone. Misoprostol causes cramping and bleeding which empties the uterus, similar to an early miscarriage.

A follow-up visit should be scheduled a week or two later to confirm the success of the pregnancy termination through either an ultrasound or a blood test.

Medication abortion successfully ends pregnancy in 99.6% of cases, with a 0.4% risk of major complications and a mortality rate of less than 0.001% (0.00064%).

Drugs used to treat Abortion

The medications listed below are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
misoprostol Off-label 8.2 644 reviews for misoprostol to treat Abortion Rx X N
Generic name:
misoprostol systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous GI agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
mifepristone 6.8 5 reviews for mifepristone to treat Abortion Rx X N
Generic name:
mifepristone systemic
Brand name:
Mifeprex
Drug class:
uterotonic agents, progesterone receptor modulators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
oxytocin 0.0 1 review for oxytocin to treat Abortion Rx X N
Generic name:
oxytocin systemic
Brand name:
Pitocin
Drug class:
uterotonic agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Mifeprex 0.0 1 review for Mifeprex to treat Abortion Rx X N
Generic name:
mifepristone systemic
Drug class:
uterotonic agents, progesterone receptor modulators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Pitocin Rate Add review Rx X N
Generic name:
oxytocin systemic
Drug class:
uterotonic agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Hemabate Rate Add review Rx C N
Generic name:
carboprost systemic
Drug class:
uterotonic agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
carboprost 9.0 1 review for carboprost to treat Abortion Rx C N
Generic name:
carboprost systemic
Brand name:
Hemabate
Drug class:
uterotonic agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
dinoprostone Rate Add review Rx C N
Generic name:
dinoprostone topical
Drug class:
uterotonic agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

Learn more about Abortion

Symptoms and treatments

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.