When I discovered the potential dangers of the drug Cytotec during my first year working as a doula, it infuriated me that mothers aren't informed of the risks before being given Cytotec as a cervical ripening agent for induction. I started encouraging all my clients to research induction methods so they would know what their options were and the risks involved in each one.

Since then I've heard a few ladies on Hellobee talking about their doctor's recommendation of Cytotec, and I felt like I needed to share the information with all of you so that you can make informed decisions.

I'm not trying to tell you what to do, by any means, I just want to make sure that all of you wonderful bees have all the information at hand to make the best decision for yourselves and for your babies.

I encourage you to do your own research into Cytotec/Misoprostol before making any decisions, but here is what I have gathered.

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Cytotec is a drug that was not tested in the laboratory to determine its safety before doctors starting using it as an agent to induce labor, and its manufacturer recommends against its use in inducing labor.
Instead, it was and is tested in real life labor and delivery, and unwitting mothers are the guinea pigs. In some cases, Cytotec imposes risks that far outweigh the benefits of a delivery that takes place at a convenient time. What's worse, it is often impossible to predict whether or when those risks will be realized. Some of the other medications that are used to induce labor, such as Pitocin or Cervadil, can rapidly be discontinued if problems develop.
But unlike Pitocin or Cervadil, once Cytotec is given, either in a pill form by mouth, or inserted vaginally, so there is no way to stop its action, even if trouble occurs. The reason Cytotec is used instead of other, safer drugs, is simply that it is cheaper.

Cytotec can cause abnormally strong uterine contractions (hyperstimulation or tetany) so strong that the uterus ruptures, resulting in severe injury or death of the mother and child. It can cause such heavy bleeding that to save the mother's life, her uterus must be removed (hysterectomy), leaving her incapable of bearing another child, and disrupting her natural hormones. The violent contractions it provokes also increase the risk of amniotic fluid emboli that can result in a stroke or death. Many, or maybe most doctors and nurses using this drug do not know about these risks.

Following are more facts about Cytotec:

- Cytotec is the trade name given by pharmaceutical company, Searle, for the drug, Misoprostol or prostaglandin E1. Searle is the only manufacturer of Cytotec in the U.S.
- Cytotec was invented to treat gastric ulcers, and that is the only use that Searle recommends for it.
- Cytotec is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. nor by its manufacturer, for cervical ripening and labor induction.
- Searle, the manufacturer of Cytotec sent all physicians a Drug Alert (also called a "Dear Doctor letter") in August of 2001, warning that Cytotec may cause uterine rupture, and recommending against its use for induction of labor.
- The FDA then posted Searle's letter, using it as their own "Safety Alert" to interested parties.
- Searle has placed warnings on the drug label "not to be used in women who are pregnant." The silhouette of the pregnant woman with the slash through it at the top of this page actually appears on every Cytotec box.
- Cytotec is rated Category X for pregnancy (X means should not be used for pregnant women).
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has declared that Cytotec should NEVER be used to induce a vaginal delivery following a Cesarean Section, which is also called a "VBAC" (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean).
- Cytotec occasionally, unpredictably causes uterine ruptures in women who have no identifiable risk factors.