UNDER REVIEW (September 2016)
Mechanism of Action:
Prostaglandin E1 analogue. Causes cervical dilatation by activating collagenase in cervix (cervical ripening). Also causes uterine contractions. Gemeprost acts on PGE2 receptors in myometrium. Contraction causes expulsion of uterine contents.
Lecture and CAL materials:
- Lecture:
Drug specifics
| Alternative drug name | not specified |
| Effects | Gemeprost administered vaginally as pessaries is currently the preferred prostaglandin for the medical induction of late therapeutic abortion. It dilates and ripens the cervix, causes abortion by contraction of the uterus. |
| Adverse actions | Vaginal bleeding and uterine pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea, headache, dizziness, flushing, chills. Rarely uterine rupture has been reported (most commonly in multiparas or if history of uterine surgery or if given with intravenous oxytocics. |
| Dose | See eBNF. |
| Interactions | Risk of profound hypotension with use of mifepristone. |
| Contraindications | not specified |
| Comments | The prostaglandin analogue causes vasodilation of uterine blood supply to facilitate contractions and vasoconstriction of placental blood supply. Other prostaglandin analogues used in the induction of abortion are misoprostol and extra-amniotic dinoprostone (rarely used nowadays). Dinoprostone is used maily for the induction of labour. |
| Contributors |
eDrug by