Side effects of medicines used to complete a miscarriage

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Side effects of medicines used to complete a miscarriage

While medication treatment for miscarriage offers an alternative to surgical treatment, it can cause greater blood loss than surgical treatment, and side effects can be severe.¹ ²

Mifepristone can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.²
Misoprostol can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and chills.³
Methergine that is used to decrease bleeding can cause sudden high blood pressure, so it is used carefully.

References

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Citations
Geyman JP, et al. (1999). Expectant, medical, or surgical treatment of spontaneous abortion in first trimester of pregnancy? A pooled quantitative literature evaluation. Journal of the American Board of Family Practice, 12(1): 55–64.
Ankum WM, et al. (2001). Management of spontaneous miscarriage in the first trimester: An example of putting informed shared decision-making into practice. BMJ, 322(7298): 1343–1346.
Goldberg AB, et al. (2001). Misoprostol and pregnancy. New England Journal of Medicine, 344(1): 38–47.

Credits

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Author	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Updated	May 9, 2007

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Last updated:	May 09, 2007
Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Reviewed By:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine, Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC

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