Mifepristone (Oral Route)

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy CategoryExplanation
All TrimestersXStudies in animals or pregnant women have demonstrated positive evidence of fetal abnormalities. This drug should not be used in women who are or may become pregnant because the risk clearly outweighs any possible benefit.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Adrenal failure—Mifepristone may not work appropriately
  • Bleeding problems—May cause excessive vaginal bleeding
  • Diabetes or
  • Heart disease or
  • High blood pressure or
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease or
  • Lung disease
  • Women older than 35 years of age who smoke cigarettes (10 or more a day)—You should use caution if you have any of these chronic conditions and let your doctor know before beginning treatment with this medicine.
  • Ectopic pregnancy (e.g., a pregnancy that develops in fallopian tubes instead of the uterus) or
  • Lower abdominal mass—Mifepristone will not terminate an ectopic pregnancy
  • An intrauterine device (IUD) that is still in the uterus—Must be removed before mifepristone therapy is started
  • Porphyria, inherited
  • Anemia, severe or
  • Poor blood circulation or
  • Inability of blood to clot properly—Mifepristone causes heavy bleeding in a small portion of users, this may be intensified in patients with bleeding disorders
Proper Use Brand Names and Description

DR601545

Portions of this document last updated:

Nov. 1, 2009

Source: Drug Information provided by: Micromedex

Copyright © 2009 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.


Text Size: smaller largerlarger