The advocacy group Women Educating Cytotec Awareness Nationwide on Monday protested outside the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' 54th Annual Clinical Meeting in Washington, D.C., calling for a ban on the use of misoprostol to induce labor, the Washington Times reports (Howard Price, Washington Times, 5/9). ACOG in November 2000 issued a committee opinion affirming use of misoprostol for induction of labor in response to an August 2000 letter from G.D. Searle & Co. -- the maker of misoprostol then sold as an antiulcer drug under the brand name Cytotec -- that warned physicians against the use of the misoprostol in pregnant women for safety reasons. ACOG in the opinion said that after reviewing published data and adverse outcomes reported to FDA, it believes that misoprostol, "when used appropriately is a safe and effective agent for cervical ripening and labor induction as well as a resource for treating serious postpartum hemorrhage" (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/1/00). According to the Times, FDA -- which has approved Cytotec as a treatment for ulcers but not to induce labor -- has issued alerts about the use of the drug in pregnant women since 2000 (Washington Times, 5/9). "There can be serious side effects, including a torn uterus (womb), when misoprostol is used for labor and delivery," a May 2005 FDA alert says. It also says, "A torn uterus may result in severe bleeding, having the uterus removed (hysterectomy), and death of the mother or baby." However, the alert adds that it is only a "preliminary analysis," and the agency "has not reached a final conclusion about this information" (FDA alert, May 2005). Pfizer, which currently produces Cytotec, earlier this year advised against pregnant women using the drug (Washington Times, 5/9).

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