- Mifepristone
- The French abortion pill, also known as RU-486. RU-486 has been used in combination with another drug called misoprostol, terminate pregnancy at an early stage. It is used with women who are no more than 7 weeks pregnant. The drug has 95% effectiveness. About 5% of women using RU-486 in early pregnancies need additional medical intervention because of incomplete abortions. (doctors often intervene at higher rates in cases of natural miscarriages). The side effects with RU-486 are similar to those of a natural miscarriage.
* * *Synthetic chemical compound with antiprogesterone properties used for early pregnancy termination; the substance binds with glucocorticoid receptors resulting in increased adrenal gland secretion. SYN: RU-486.
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n.a drug used to produce an abortion within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy: it acts by blocking the action of progesterone, which is essential for maintaining pregnancy. It is taken by mouth, followed after 36 hours by gemeprost intravaginally. Side-effects include faintness, headache, and vaginal bleeding. Trade name: Mifegyne.* * *
mif·e·pris·tone (mif″ə-prisґtōn) an antiprogestin used in combination with misoprostol or other prostaglandin as a postcoital contraceptive, terminating pregnancy in the first trimester; administered orally. Called also RU-486.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
