How should I take the misoprostol pills?
These instructions are for a pregnancy that is up to 12 weeks (84 days). These instructions are based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization. After 12 weeks, there is a higher chance of a complication and the medicines are used differently.1
A woman will need 12 pills of 200 micrograms each.
1- A woman should put 4 pills of 200 micrograms (in total 800 mcg) misoprostol under the tongue. Do not swallow the pills for at least 30 minutes until the tablets are dissolved! (She can swallow her saliva, but NOT the pills. After 30 minutes it is ok to swallow what remains of the pills.
2- After 3 hours she should put another 4 pills of misoprostol under the tongue. Do not swallow the pills for at least 30 minutes, until the tablets are dissolved.
3- After 3 hours she should put another 4 pills of misoprostol under the tongue again for a third time. Do not swallow the pills for at least 30 minutes, until the tablets are dissolved.
In between the doses of misoprostol, a woman can eat and drink normally.
The success rate is approximately 85-95%. 58
This means that 8 to 9 women of every 10 women who use misoprostol correctly will have a safe abortion after this procedure.