Induction - Cytotec or Cervidil?

[Anonymous]

Have your membranes stripped. It made my friend go into labor about 30 mins later. I had it done and went into labor aboout 72 hrs later (4 hrs before I was scheduled to be induced).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Dr. used Cytotec during the night and the Prostaglandin gel in the morning. Neither worked the first time, so they sent me home for three days. On the second go around, they just used the prostaglandin gel, which started my contractions and helped me dilate 1 centimeter. Then they started the pitocin and 8 hours later my DD was born.

What irresponsible OB still uses Cytotec? Posting his/her name would be a public service.

NP here, but my doctor (one that has had many positive comments on this site - and who delivered at VHC for the above poster who asked) gave me a choice between cytotec and Pitocin when I delivered in February. He spoke with me on the pros and cons of each, explained the reason cytotec is not FDA approved is because it is so cheap (he said $1 a pill) there isnt enough profit margin to do the research required by the FDA to get it approved, and gave me the lowest dose (I think 25 mg). I had a completely uneventful labor (as do the LARGE majority of those who are induced with it - including this doctor's experience of never having had a problem with it). Why would a doctor encourage a drug he thought was dangerous when HE would have to deal with the ramifications if something went wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Dr. used Cytotec during the night and the Prostaglandin gel in the morning. Neither worked the first time, so they sent me home for three days. On the second go around, they just used the prostaglandin gel, which started my contractions and helped me dilate 1 centimeter. Then they started the pitocin and 8 hours later my DD was born.

What irresponsible OB still uses Cytotec? Posting his/her name would be a public service.

NP here, but my doctor (one that has had many positive comments on this site - and who delivered at VHC for the above poster who asked) gave me a choice between cytotec and Pitocin when I delivered in February. He spoke with me on the pros and cons of each, explained the reason cytotec is not FDA approved is because it is so cheap (he said $1 a pill) there isnt enough profit margin to do the research required by the FDA to get it approved, and gave me the lowest dose (I think 25 mg). I had a completely uneventful labor (as do the LARGE majority of those who are induced with it - including this doctor's experience of never having had a problem with it). Why would a doctor encourage a drug he thought was dangerous when HE would have to deal with the ramifications if something went wrong?

No, cytotec is not merely "unapproved". The FDA has BANNED its use for induction, and not because the drug is cheap. The FDA and the manufacturer have banned it because it ruptures women's uteruses and kills them and/or their baby.

Why would a doctor use it? Because it works very well, because it is inexpensive, because the relative risk of using it is low, because they have never personally witnessed a bad outcome, and perhaps most importantly because their peers use it. Of course, as long as something is generally accepted in the obstetric community, doctors are covered in a potential lawsuit.

Personally, if I had a medical emergency which required immediate delivery of my baby out and my bishops score were very low, I would probably use a low dose of cytotec because it is the drug most likely to work, and I would prefer the risk of cytotec over the risks of a cesarean. However, I would only do it if the anesthesiologist and operating room were absolutely ready for an emergency. Granted, I would not agree to an induction for 90% of the so-called medical reasons most women get induced these days, so it would have to be a very urgent situation.

[Anonymous]

Back in 2000 the maker of cytotec (misoprostol) reported it was unsafe to use this drug for induction. The hyper stimulation of the uterus caused by this drug can negatively effect blood supply to the baby and or rupture the uterus completely of the mother. I am by no means anti induction but please do the research on this drug. It is deadly!

[Anonymous]

The bizarre thing to me is that there is a perfectly adequate substite (Cervadil)....so why doctors continue to use the Cytotec is a total mystery (maybe it works faster and gets the labor over with quicker = more profit for doctor?) Cytotec is much cheaper but doctors don't really care what costs they are passing on to your insurance...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what VHC/Arlington Women's Center prefers to use? I'm being induced on Friday and I guess I need to bring this up at my appointment this week, but was wondering if I could get some insight in the mean time.

AWC uses Cervadil, at least they did with me and I was induced at the end of April.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, PP!