Dinoprostone
Description
Dinoprostone is a uterotonic medication (medicine that stimulates uterine muscles). It is used to help prepare your cervix (the lower opening of the uterus/womb) for labour and delivery. It is used for women who are having a normal pregnancy and who are near their delivery due date. The suppository form of this medicine is also used to induce abortion (termination of pregnancy).
Dinoprostone may cause some common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps (painful muscle contractions), etc. However, your doctor will provide appropriate treatment based on the severity of your symptoms.
Dinoprostone is administered by your doctor in a clinic or hospital setting. Your doctor will continuously monitor your uterine activity and the heart rate of your foetus after the administration of this medicine.
Dinoprostone should be avoided if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you have a history of asthma, glaucoma (increased fluid pressure in your eye) or any pre-existing heart/liver/kidney problems before receiving this medicine. Dinoprostone is only recommended for normal/vaginal delivery and not for caesarean delivery. If you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Dinoprostone
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal cramps
- Fever
- Constipation
- Swelling of genital area
- Chills or shivering
- Headache
- Changes in fetal heart rate
- Low blood pressure
Uses of Dinoprostone
What is it prescribed for?
- Induction of labour
- Termination of pregnancy
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionDinoprostone shows its effect within 10 minutes after vaginal insertion of suppository.
- Duration of effectThe effect of Dinoprostone lasts for up to 2 to 6 hours after vaginal insertion of the suppository.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies have been reported with Dinoprostone.
- Usage in pregnancy?Use of Dinoprostone is not recommended for pregnant women other than for the indicated uses such as the induction of labour and termination of pregnancy.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Dinoprostone is excreted into breastmilk. When used for induction of labour, the presence of this medicine in breastmilk will not affect your baby and you may breastfeed normally after delivery.
Allergy
Avoid receiving Dinoprostone if you are allergic to it. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of your face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Caesarean section
Caesarean section, also known as C-section/caesarean delivery, is the surgical procedure by which your baby is delivered through an incision (cut) in your abdomen. Dinoprostone is not recommended if have a history of caesarean section due to the increased risk of complications during the delivery process.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease is the infection of the reproductive organs in women. Symptoms may include fever, pain in your lower abdomen, vaginal discharge, painful/frequent urination, etc. Dinoprostone is not recommended for use if you are currently infected with/have a history of pelvic inflammatory disease due to the increased risk of worsening your condition.
Placenta praevia
Placenta praevia is a condition in which your placenta partially or completely blocks the neck of the uterus (womb) and interferes with the normal/vaginal delivery of your baby. The main symptom includes vaginal bleeding during pregnancy and delivery. Since caesarean section/c-section is recommended in such cases, the use of Dinoprostone is not recommended.
Pregnancy complications
Cephalopelvic disproportion and fetal malpresentation are pregnancy complications where the foetus is positioned in a manner where the delivery of the baby becomes complicated. Dinoprostone is not recommended in such cases.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Use of Dinoprostone is not recommended for pregnant women other than for the indicated uses such as the induction of labour and termination of pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
Dinoprostone is excreted into breastmilk. When used for induction of labour, the presence of this medicine in breastmilk will not affect your baby and you may breastfeed normally after delivery.
General warnings
Other diseases
Dinoprostone should be used with caution if you have a history of epilepsy (fits), heart/liver/kidney problems due to the increased risk of worsening your condition.
Uterine rupture
Dinoprostone has been associated with an increased risk of uterine rupture when used for labour induction in some women. Continuous electronic monitoring of uterine activity and foetal heart rate is recommended while using this medicine.
For hospital use only
Dinoprostone should be administered only by a trained obstetrician in a hospital setting with appropriate medical care facilities.
Use with caution
Dinoprostone should be used with caution in women aged 35 years or older, with a gestational age over 40 weeks, and those with pregnancy-related complications due to the increased risk of bleeding.
Missed Dose
Since Dinoprostone is administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.
Overdose
Since Dinoprostone is administered in a hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very low.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Misoprostol
Mifepristone
Oxytocin
Ergonovine
Disease interactions
Asthma
Dinoprostone should be used with caution if you have a history of asthma due to the increased risk of worsening your condition.
Hypotension
Hypotension is a condition of low blood pressure. Dinoprostone should be used with caution if you have hypotension due to the increased risk of side effects.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition where the pressure in the eyeballs is abnormally high that can damage the optic nerve and lead to eventual loss of vision. Dinoprostone should be used with caution if you have a history of glaucoma due to the increased risk of side effects.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Dinoprostone should be administered only by a trained obstetrician in a hospital setting with appropriate medical care facilities.
Dinoprostone is administered intravaginally by your doctor. It is recommended to stay in the supine position (lying down position with your face facing upwards) for 10 minutes (suppository), 15 to 30 minutes (gel) following administration.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Dinoprostone is similar to prostaglandin, the hormone that helps to relax the muscles of the cervix (opening of the uterus) for inducing labour in pregnant women who are at the end of pregnancy, ready to deliver the baby. This medicine is also used to induce abortion (termination of a pregnancy).
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Uterotonic agents
Schedule
Schedule H
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Drugs, H., 2021. Dinoprostone: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 18 September 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - PREPIDIL- dinoprostone gel. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 18 September 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Prostin E2® dinoprostone vaginal suppository. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 18 September 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Prostin E2 Vaginal Gel 2mg - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 18 September 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 18 September 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 19 September 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 26 Oct 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.