What do you think of Cytotec for induction?

mrsjohnson706 · April 2011

Would you let your doctor use it to induce you, knowing it's an off-label use?

I'm curious to see what people think, since it seems to be fairly widely used. Any thoughts?

htuzzi324 · April 2011

It was used on me, and let me tell you, NEVER AGAIN. It's supposed to thin your cervix and maybe make you a little crampy in the process. Instead, I went straight into contractions that did absolutely nothing.

butterflygirl2271 · April 2011

Cytotec should NOT be used anymore!!

mrsjohnson706 · April 2011

htuzzi324:
It was used on me, and let me tell you, NEVER AGAIN. It's supposed to thin your cervix and maybe make you a little crampy in the process. Instead, I went straight into contractions that did absolutely nothing.

Yuck...I'm sorry. From what I've been reading, that's the complaint of many women. It's extremely hard on their body, but doesn't actually produce much in the way of helping the body along.

LeahRW · April 2011

I wouldn't let it be used on me. It's never been properly clinically tried for purposes of induction, so there's no real data on side effects, and all the anecdotal evidence I've heard points to it just being bad news - very painful contractions, increased incidence of uterine rupture, etc.

BLM10 · April 2011

NO WAY. It's actually counter-indicated for induction and increases the risk of lung problems for the baby because it makes them pass meconium in the womb, which they swallow during birth.

ldcoffel · April 2011

It was used on me for DD. I didn't have any problems with it. DD did have merconium, but I didn't know there was a correlation.

BananaPancake · April 2011

No way. My OB tried to use it on my with my 1st and I told him he was completely nuts and that I wasn't coming to the hospital until he found something else.

rosebud709 · April 2011

It was used on me last year when they induced my daughter after she'd been lost at 22 weeks. It worked great for that, since there was no worry involved of harming her. For a live baby I might reconsider though...

dairygirl19 · April 2011

It was used on me for my stillbirth.

I didn't have any problems with it and it actually worked very well. However, my body was nowhere near ready for labor so I needed something strong and fast.

I can't say my birth was more difficult than anyone else's because of it.

My dr. did monitor closely and he gave it to me in half doses over the period of hours though.

Christine&Chris · April 2011

Absolutely not! In fact, it's not approved for use in our hospital. It's never been clinically studied as an OB drug, so all side-effects, appropriate dosages, half-life, etc. are fairly unknown when used in inductions. Also, once administered I don't think it can be stopped, which is where you get your maternal and fetal deaths, emergency hysterectomies/uterine ruptures. I wouldn't want to be a guinea pig during delivery...

rae_dylanzmom · April 2011

Just wanted to say thanks for the posts. Although I wasn't the OPer, I think my MW mentioned this drug as something she didn't recommend but had available (and as I recall, she made a no face). I'll be prepared now, in case it comes back up.

PinkGrapefuit · April 2011

I had it, it did nothing but help to thin my cervix. No cramps, no contractions, just thinned me out overnight and pitocin started in the morning.

iris427 · April 2011

Yes I would allow it for an induction in certain cases.*

I don't have a problem with off-label use in itself. Many drugs are used off-label across many fields of medicine, to the benefit of patients. If off-label drugs were never used, many people would have much fewer options and many new treatment options would never be discovered. It's not true that off-label drugs have no clinical research done either. Cytotec use for labor induction has been tested in scientific studies, and a simple search for misoprostol + induction will bring up those studies. FTR, Cytotec is not the only drug used off-label for obstetrical or gynecological purposes. I do think there needs to be more research into Cytotec to develop more consistent, evidence-based protocols.

I would probably want to try Cervidil before Cytotec, but I would not write Cytotec off completely. It is a successful induction tool and if I had a medical situation where I needed to give birth soon, I would want all options on the table.

*if I did not have a prior cesarean. Since I do, Cytotec is contraindicated for me.

MeganJBear · April 2011

I had pre-E my last pregnancy and was induced with Cytotec and Pitocin. The cytotec was the only thing that got me dilated enough to have my water broken. In an ideal world, I'd choose less intervention - but if I need to be induced for medical reasons again I will allow Cytotec again.

MrsOdom2106 · April 2011

I would never EVER allow cytotec to be used in my delivery. I am a nurse, and I have done a lot of research on the drug, and it is rated in the pregnancy category of X which means that it is known to cause harm to the fetus/mother. There are many petitions out there to ban the use of cytotec for induction because women and their children have DIED as a result of recieving this drug. I urge everyone out there to REFUSE CYTOTEC... It's your right to refuse... Don't let the DR/staff make you feel like you aren't doing the best thing for your baby or guilt you into letting them give you this drug.

lindsayj09 · April 2011

I'm glad I read this post today! My midwife will be inducing this week if needed and cytotec was one of the drugs she had mentioned. I had heard previously of it, but didn't really think I'd actually encounter it. I will make sure to question her about it this week.

ckolak:-) · April 2011

Absolutely NOT. There are other options. Cytotec will never be used on me. The risks are not worth it IMO.

What do you think of Cytotec for induction?

Re: What do you think of Cytotec for induction?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards