What medications will I receive?

Your package will contain two different medications: 1 tablet of mifepristone and either 8 or 12 tablets of misoprostol. The number of misoprostol pills you receive depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy.

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How do I take the medications?

The package comes with very detailed instructions about how to take the medications and what to expect after you have taken them.​​

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Briefly, you will begin by swallowing the first pill (mifepristone). You will then wait for 24 to 48 hours. At that time, you will take the first four pills of misoprostol. Four hours later, you will take a second dose of four tablets of misoprostol and, if you are a little later in pregnancy, a final dose of four tablets four hours later.​​

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Example

Saturday at 10am take mifepristone (first pill)

Sunday at 10am to Monday at 10am take four misoprostol. Put the pills in your cheeks, let them sit for 30 minutes then swallow them

Four hours later, take four more pills of misoprostol the same way

If you have a third dose of misoprostol, you will take four hours after the last pills in the same way. 

 

 

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What happens after I take the first pill (mifepristone)?

After taking the first pill (mifepristone), most people will not feel any changes. Some people will have bleeding or cramping. If you have bleeding and cramping, you should still take the next medications as instructed. Taking all the medication helps to ensure that the abortion is successful.

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When do bleeding and cramping start?

Bleeding and cramping usually starts a few hours after taking the second set of pills (misoprostol) but may take up to 48 hours to start.

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What is the bleeding and cramping like after taking the second set of pills (misoprostol)?

If you are early in pregnancy (less than 6 weeks) bleeding and cramping can be like a period or lighter and there may not be clots. If you are later, bleeding and cramping is usually heavier than a period and you can pass clots. Clots may be the size of a lemon. Bleeding usually is heavy for a few hours and should get lighter once the pregnancy passes. Bleeding can be off and on for a month or more after taking the misoprostol.

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How can I manage pain and cramping?

You can take ibuprofen (also called Advil or Motrin) before using the misoprostol or when cramping starts. You can take four ibuprofen tablets (800mg) every 6-8 hours. If the ibuprofen is not working well enough, you also can take two extra-strength Tylenol (1000mg) every 8 hours. Do not take more than 4000mg of Tylenol (8 extra-strength pills). You also can take a shower, get a massage, or use hot packs to help with cramping.

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Will I have side effects after taking the medications?

The first pill, mifepristone, does not usually cause side effects. The second set of pills (misoprostol) may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or sensations of feeling hot or cold. If you have prescription medications for nausea (Zofran, Reglan, Compazine), you can take them before using the misoprostol. If you don't, you can take an over-the-counter nausea medication like Dramamine.

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Does it matter when I take the pills?

We recommend taking the pills within a few days of receiving them because the medication doses depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy. You can carry on your usual activities like work or school after taking the first pill, but you will need a few hours of dedicated time to pass the pregnancy after taking the second set of pills. If you need a note for work, please message us.

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What if I don’t have any bleeding or cramping after taking all the medications?

After finishing all the medications, it can take up to 48 hours to experience bleeding. If it has been more than 48 hours after your last dose of misoprostol and you haven't had any bleeding, please contact us.

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How will I know the abortion worked?

If you had bleeding and cramping after taking the pills, the bleeding and cramping are getting better, and your pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness are going away, the abortion pills worked. You should take a pregnancy test 4-6 weeks after using the misoprostol to be sure. Do NOT take a pregnancy test earlier, because it takes a long time for the pregnancy hormones to leave your body, so the test stays positive even if the abortion worked fine.

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When can I start oral contraceptive pills?

You can start oral contraceptive pills any time after taking misoprostol. If you start within five days of taking misoprostol, you will be protected against pregnancy the next time you have sex.

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Will you follow up with me after I take the pills?

We will check in with you through our messaging system 2 weeks and 6 weeks after sending the pills. If you have questions or concerns in the meantime, you can reach us through our secure messaging platform.