Cytotec: Black Box Warnings
Pregnancy
use in pregnant women can cause abortion, premature birth, or birth defects; uterine rupture reported w/ use to induce labor or abortion past 8th wk of pregnancy; do not use to decr. NSAID ulcer risk in pregnant pts; advise pts of abortifacient property and warn not to give to others
Take a look at this link to read about one of the latest lawsuits against physicians using Cytotec on pregnant women at: http://www.consciouswoman.org/2008/04/01/conscious-woman-of-the-month-april-2008/
Please forward this e-newsletter on to alert more women to the dangers of cytotec birth induction.
"Without a doubt, inducing birth for any reason, by any method and by anyone, including physician or midwife, has no scientific or medical basis of benefit in any case and will most likely decrease the health of a mother and baby. First-time mothers easily need up to 42 weeks and longer to prevent premature birth. Allowing labor to begin spontaneously provides the best results." Gail J. Dahl, Award Winning Author, Researcher and Childbirth Educator, "Pregnancy & Childbirth Secrets"
Cytotec (also called Misoprostol or Miso)
Who is given drug or procedure and why? Pregnant women who are overdue by 1 1/2 weeks.
What does the drug or procedure do? Cytotec is a tablet that is inserted in the vagina. It softens the cervix and induces contractions. Once inserted it cannot be removed.
Contraindication/Possible Adverse Side Effect:
1. Cytotec has been known to cause tears in the uterus, called uterine rupture and hyperstimulation of the uterus and fetus, (when the uterus contracts too fast, or too many times in a short period of time and when the baby’s heart beat is too fast or too slow) when it is used to induce labor past the 8th week of pregnancy.
2. Cytotec should never be used if you have had a prior C-section.
3. Serious reactions include abortion, miscarriage and teratogenicity (fetal malformation). In rare cases it has been known to cause cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis (life-threatening respiratory distress) Myocardial Infarction (MI) (when the blood flow to the heart is stopped) and irregular heartbeat.
4. Cytotec can also cause AFE-amniotic fluid embolism (amniotic fluid, fetal cells, hair or other debris enter the mother’s circulation, causing cardio-respiratory collapse leading to the death of both mother and baby).
5. Cytotec is in the FDA pregnancy category “X”, meaning it is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Death of mothers and babies have been reported with this drug.
6. Cytotec is a drug approved only for the prevention of ulcers and to treat chronic constipation. Cytotec is being commonly used for early termination of pregnancy and to induce labor, despite not being FDA approved for use in pregnancy. For this reason, there is inadequate data on the risks and benefits of this drug for use in labor.
http://tatia.org/index.html
Mission: The Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation is dedicated to empowering women, specifically in the area of childbirth and pregnancy. We are dedicated to saving the lives of those giving life to others.The Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation is presently focusing on the issues of informed consent, the off-label use of drugs, and maternal mortality.
Dedication: The Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation dedicates this site to ALL mothers and children who have been damaged, injured, or lost their lives due to medical interventions and drugs given during childbirth – without full knowledge of what they needed to know before these interventions were used or given to them.
Copyright 2008, Secrets Newsletter 2008, by Award Winning Author, Gail J. Dahl “Pregnancy & Childbirth Secrets” http://web.mac.com/pregnancysecrets. This article may be reprinted or reposted on the internet for the purpose of childbirth education when references are included. The information contained in or provided through this publication is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be, and is not provided as, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your midwife, physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment or for answers to any questions you may have regarding any medical condition.
