Isovent

Benign gastric and duodenal ulceration and NSAID associated ulceration: 800 mcg daily (in 2-4 divided doses) with breakfast or main meals and at bedtime; treatment should be continued for at least 4 weeks and may be continued for up to 8 weeks if required.

Prophylaxis of NSAID-induced gastric and duodenal ulcer: 200 mcg 2-4 times daily taken with NSAID. If this dose cannot be tolerated, a dose of 100 mcg can be used. Misoprostol should be taken for the duration of NSAID therapy as prescribed by the physician.

Induction of labor: Place 25 mcg in the posterior fornix of the vagina. Repeat after every 6 hours if necessary until the maximum dosage of 200 mcg total misoprostol is reached. Fetal heart rate and uterus contractions should be monitored. Alternatively, 100 mcg taken orally. If cervical ripening or active labor does not occur, repeated dose of 100-200 mcg of oral misoprostol is given every 4 hourly until labor is established (as evidenced by a Bishop score of 7 or more). Maximum number of dose is 6. Maternal vital signs, fetal heart rate and contractions should be monitored. Oxytocin can be started 4 hours after last dose of misoprostol. Physician should be notified for signs of fetal distress or tetanic uterine contractions. Oral misoprostol therapy should be monitored by Physician.

Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage: 600 mcg orally immediately following delivery.

Treatment of postpartum hemorrhage: 600 mcg orally or 1000 mcg per rectally.

Generally, Misoprostol is well tolerated. The most frequent adverse effects associated with Misoprostol therapy involve the GI tract such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, rashes and dizziness. The incidence of diarrhea may be minimized by administering the drug after meal and at bedtime and by avoiding concomitant administration with a magnesium-containing or other laxative antacid.

The toxic dose of Misoprostol in human has not been determined. Clinical signs that may indicate an overdose are a sedation, tremor, convulsions, dyspnea, abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. Symptoms should be treated with supportive therapy.

Misoprostol is extensively absorbed, and undergoes rapid de-esterification to its free acid, which is responsible for its clinical activity and, unlike the parent compound, is detectable in plasma. Maximum plasma concentrations of Misoprostol acid are diminished when the dose is taken with food and total availability of Misoprostol acid is reduced by use of concomitant antacid. Misoprostol has both antisecretory (inhibiting gastric acid secretion) and (in animals) mucosal protective properties. NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, and a deficiency of prostaglandins within the gastric mucosa may lead to diminishing bicarbonate and mucus secretion and may contribute to the mucosal damage caused by these agents. Misoprostol can increase bicarbonate and mucus production, but in man this has been shown at doses 200 meg and above that are also antisecretory. It is therefore not possible to tell whether the ability of Misoprostol to reduce the risk of gastric ulcer is the result of its antisecretory effect, its mucosal protective effect, or both.

In case of prevention and treatment of NSAID induced gastric and duodenal ulcer: Misoprostol is contraindicated in women who are pregnant, and should not be used in women of child bearing potential unless the patient requires NSAID therapy. Women of child bearing potential should be told that they must not be pregnant when Misoprostol therapy is initiated and they must use an effective contraception method while taking misoprostol.

In case of induction of labor: The pregnancy should have completed 38 weeks gestation by reliable dating, or lung maturity as evidenced by a L/S >2.0 or a positive phosphotidyl glycerol test, or completed 36 weeks gestation with a maternal or fetal medical indication for induction of labor. Induction of labor is contraindicated in acute fetal distress, abruptio placenta, placenta previa or unexplained vaginal bleeding. The fetus should be in vertex presentation.

Drugs acting on the Uterus, Prostaglandin analogues