Dinoprostone

Generic name: Dinoprostone
Drug class: Uterotonic agents

Usage of Dinoprostone

Dinoprostone works by causing the cervix to thin and dilate (open) and the uterus to contract (cramp) the way it does during labor.

Dinoprostone may also be used for other purposes as determined by your doctor.

Dinoprostone is to be administered only by or under the immediate care of your doctor.

Dinoprostone side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common or rare

  • Fast or slow heartbeat
  • hives
  • increased pain of the uterus
  • pale, cool, blotchy skin on arms or legs
  • pressing or painful feeling in chest
  • shortness of breath
  • swelling of face, inside the nose, and eyelids
  • tightness in chest
  • trouble in breathing
  • weak or absent pulse in arms or legs
  • wheezing

    • Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

    More common

  • Abdominal or stomach cramps
  • diarrhea
  • fever
  • nausea
  • vomiting

    • Less common or rare

  • Chills or shivering
  • constipation
  • flushing
  • headache
  • swelling of the genital area (vulva)
  • tender or mildly bloated abdomen or stomach

    • This procedure may still result in some effects, which occur after the procedure is completed, that need medical attention. Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects occur:

  • Chills or shivering (continuing)
  • fever (continuing)
  • foul-smelling vaginal discharge
  • pain in lower abdomen
  • unusual increase in bleeding of the uterus

    • Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

    Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Dinoprostone

    In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

    Allergies

    Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

    Breast Feeding

    There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

    Interactions with Medicines

    Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

    Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Ephedrine

    • Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

    Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

    Other Medical Problems

    The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Anemia (or history of)—Dinoprostone, when used in doses that stimulate the uterus to contract, may result in loss of blood in some patients that may require a blood transfusion
  • Asthma (or history of, including childhood asthma) or
  • Lung disease—Dinoprostone may cause narrowing of the blood vessels in the lungs or narrowing of the lung passages, especially when it is used in doses that stimulate the uterus to contract
  • Epilepsy (or history of)—Rarely, seizures have occurred with dinoprostone when it is used in doses that stimulate the uterus to contract
  • Glaucoma—Rarely, the pressure within the eye has increased and constriction of the pupils has occurred during the use of medicines like dinoprostone; this may also be a problem with dinoprostone when it is used in doses that stimulate the uterus to contract
  • Heart or blood vessel disease (or history of) or
  • High blood pressure (or history of) or
  • Low blood pressure (history of)—Dinoprostone may cause changes in heart function or blood pressure changes; two patients with a history of heart disease had heart attacks when dinoprostone was used in doses that stimulated the uterus to contract
  • Kidney disease (or history of) or
  • Liver disease (or history of)—The body may not remove dinoprostone from the blood stream at the usual rate, which may make the dinoprostone work longer or cause an increased chance of side effects, especially when dinoprostone is used in doses that stimulate the uterus to contract
  • Problems during delivery, history of or
  • Surgery of uterus (history of) or
  • Unusual vaginal bleeding—There is an increased risk of problems occurring with dinoprostone when it is used in doses that stimulate the uterus to contract

    • Relate drugs

    How to use Dinoprostone

    After dinoprostone is given, you will need to lie down for 10 minutes to 2 hours so that the medicine can be absorbed. The length of time you must remain lying down will depend on what form of the medicine you are using.

    Dosing

    The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

    The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For cervical dosage form (gel):
  • To thin and widen the opening of the cervix just before labor:
  • Adults and teenagers—Your doctor will insert 0.5 milligram (mg) (one application) of dinoprostone into the canal of your cervix. You should remain lying on your back for at least ten to thirty minutes after it has been applied.
  • For vaginal dosage form (gel):
  • To cause the uterus to contract for labor:
  • Adults and teenagers—Your doctor will insert 1 milligram (mg) (one applicatorful) of dinoprostone into your vagina. You should remain lying on your back for at least thirty minutes after it has been applied. You may need another dose of 1 to 2 mg six hours after the first dose.
  • For vaginal dosage form (suppositories):
  • To cause the uterus to contract to abort a pregnancy:
  • Adults and teenagers—Your doctor will insert 20 milligrams (mg) (one suppository) into your vagina every three to five hours as needed. You should remain lying on your back for at least ten minutes after it has been inserted.
  • For vaginal dosage form (system):
  • To thin and widen the opening of the cervix just before labor:
  • Adults and teenagers—Your doctor will insert 10 milligrams (mg) (one system) into your vagina. You should remain lying on your back for at least two hours after it has been inserted.

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