Prescription Drugs
 contains or is another name for this drug.
print Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mifepristone (mi fe' pri stone)
Other names: Mifeprex
Warning Important Warning
Serious or life threatening vaginal bleeding may occur when a pregnancy is ended by miscarriage or ... Full Alert
Text Label
Text minus
Text plus

Why is this medication prescribed?

Mifepristone is used alone or in combination with misoprostol (Cytotec) to end an early pregnancy. Early pregnancy means it has been 49 days or less since your last menstrual period began. Mifepristone is in a class of medications called antiprogestational steroids. It works by blocking the activity of progesterone, a substance your body makes to help continue pregnancy.

How should this medication be used?

Mifepristone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It should be taken only in a clinic, medical office, or hospital under the supervision of a qualified doctor. You will take three tablets of mifepristone at one time on the first day. Two days later you must go back to your doctor. If your doctor is not certain that your pregnancy has ended, you will take two tablets of another medication called misoprostol. You may have vaginal bleeding for 9 to 30 days or longer. Fourteen days after taking mifepristone, you must go back to your doctor for an exam or ultrasound to make sure that the pregnancy has ended. Take mifepristone exactly as directed.

Are there other uses for this medicine?

Mifepristone is also sometimes used to end pregnancies when more than 49 days have passed since the woman's last menstrual period; as an emergency contraceptive after unprotected sexual intercourse ('morning-after pill'); to treat tumors of the brain, endometriosis (growth of uterus tissue outside the uterus), or fibroids (noncancerous tumors in the uterus); or to induce labor (to help start the birth process in a pregnant woman). Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

  • Mifeprex®
Last Revised January 10, 2005
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
This information being provided is copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., ASHP, Bethesda, Maryland.
©2009. All Rights Reserved.
News and Hot Topics
Order Your Prescription