Misoprostol
PPH where injectable drugs aren't available: 800 micrograms sublingual (treatment) or 600 micrograms oral (prevention). Heat-stable and cheap.
Common brands in Pakistan: Cytotec. Brand availability changes; check with your pharmacy.
On this page
Dose
Cautions
- Shivering and fever (common, usually short-lived); diarrhoea.
- Not first-line where oxytocin is available and stored properly.
- Contraindicated in an ongoing wanted pregnancy.
Frequently asked questions
Why is misoprostol useful in Pakistan?
It's cheap, taken by mouth and doesn't need a fridge, so it suits home deliveries and remote centres.
Used in these guides
Sources
Doses on this page are typical doses from the sources above. Always confirm with a current drug reference, the product leaflet and your hospital protocol, especially in children, pregnancy and kidney or liver disease.
For FCPS Part 1
Revising for FCPS Part 1? Misoprostol is covered in our textbook chapter Oxytocics and prostaglandins, with practice MCQs.