Source | Sequential mifepristone and misoprostol (preferred) | Misoprostol monotherapy (alternative if mifepristone is unavailable) | ||
Mifepristone dosing and administration | Interval between mifepristone and first dose of misoprostol¶ | Misoprostol dosing and administration | ||
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists[1], endorsed by the Society of Family Planning and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine | 200 mg orally (single dose) | 24 to 48 hours | 800 mcg PV, followed by 400 mcg PV/SL every 3 hours as needed or 400 mcg buccally every 3 hours as needed Maximum number of doses: 5Δ | 400 mcg PV/SL every 3 hours as needed or 600-800 mcg PV loading dose followed by 400 mcg PV/SL every 3 hours as needed Maximum number of doses: 5Δ |
World Health Organization[2] | 200 mg orally (single dose) | 24 to 48 hours | 400 mcg BU/SL/PV every 3 hours as needed | 400 mcg PV/SL/BU every 3 hours as needed |
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)[3] | 200 mg orally (single dose) | 24 to 48 hours | 400 mcg every 3 hours BU/SL/PV until expulsion◊[3,4] | 400 mcg BU/SL every 3 hours as needed◊[3] |
BU: buccal; PO: per oral; PV: intravaginal; SL: sublingual.
* For purposes of this content, second trimester ranges from 13 weeks to 19 6/7 weeks gestation.
¶ Shorter (eg, simultaneous dosing or dosing before 24 hours) and longer (eg, 48 hours initial dose) intervals are reasonable based onpatient circumstances.
Δ Based on medication abortion, if the pregnancy loss is not complete after 5 doses of misoprostol, the patient may rest for 12 hours and then repeat the cycle again.[1]
◊ Based on medication abortion, if the pregnancy loss is not complete after 5 doses, the patient may receive additional doses or rest for 12 hours followed by additional doses.[3]Courtesy of Sarah Prager, MD, MAS; Elizabeth Micks, MD, MPH; and Vanessa K Dalton, MD, MPH.