Misoprostol oral tablet dosage: A detailed guide

Misoprostol oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Cytotec.

This article describes misoprostol oral tablet’s dosage, its strengths, and details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for misoprostol.

If you want to know more about misoprostol oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Boxed warning: Risk of harm if taken during pregnancy

Misoprostol has a boxed warning for the risk of harm if taken during pregnancy. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

See the end of this article for more information about this warning.

Form and strengths of misoprostol

Misoprostol oral tablet comes as follows:

• Form: tablet that you swallow
• Strengths: 100 micrograms (mcg), 200 mcg

Dosage of misoprostol

This article describes the recommended dosage* for misoprostol oral tablet.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should take the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of misoprostol oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.

* The drug manufacturer provides the recommended dosage.

Usual recommended dosage of misoprostol in adults

Usually, doctors start by prescribing a maintenance dosage of misoprostol oral tablet. A maintenance dosage is what you’ll take throughout your treatment. If you experience side effects, your doctor may adjust your dosage over time until the right dosage is reached.

Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of misoprostol oral tablet that gives the desired outcome. With this dosage, they’ll also want to ensure you have the fewest side effects.

• Dose: 200 micrograms (mcg)
• Frequency: four times per day

Dosage adjustments for misoprostol

Your doctor will prescribe a lower dosage of misoprostol oral tablet based on several factors. These include:

• side effects
• other health conditions you may have

Missed dose of misoprostol

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of misoprostol oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of misoprostol oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

• downloading a reminder app on your phone
• setting an alarm
• putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about misoprostol oral tablet and its dosage.

Is misoprostol used to induce a medical abortion? If so, what is the dosage?

Misoprostol has been used to induce medical abortion in the first trimester. But this isn’t an approved use from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It’s an off-label use. With off-label use, a drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved to treat.

You can ask your doctor for more information.

Is misoprostol taken long term?

Yes, doctors may prescribe misoprostol oral tablet as a long-term treatment if needed. Misoprostol helps lower the risk of stomach ulcers in adults taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You and your doctor will discuss whether misoprostol is safe and effective for your condition. If you agree that it is, you’ll typically take misoprostol as long as you take NSAIDs.  

If you have questions about how long you should take misoprostol oral tablet, talk with your doctor.

How misoprostol is taken

You’ll swallow misoprostol oral tablet four times per day. You should take the tablet with food. 

The drug manufacturer hasn’t reported whether the tablets can be chewed, split, or crushed. But if you’re having difficulty taking your medication, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can offer recommendations about taking it.

If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.

Misoprostol coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for misoprostol when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Overdose of misoprostol

It’s important that you do not take more misoprostol oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to serious side effects. 

Symptoms of misoprostol overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

• excessive sleepiness
• tremor
• seizure
• trouble breathing
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• fever
• irregular heartbeat
• slow heart rate

 What to do if you take too much misoprostol

If you think you’ve taken too much misoprostol, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for misoprostol oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Do not change your dosage of misoprostol oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take misoprostol oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• If I rarely take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, do I still need to take misoprostol?
• Does my dosage of misoprostol oral tablet depend on other medications I’m taking?
• I can’t tolerate some side effects of misoprostol oral tablet. Can I divide my dosage so that I take it two times per day instead of four times?

Boxed warnings for misoprostol

Misoprostol has a boxed warning for the risk of harm if taken during pregnancy. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Misoprostol is unsafe to take during pregnancy. This is because of the risk of pregnancy loss and rupture of the uterus. It’s also because of problems with fetal development (commonly known as birth defects). Due to this risk, doctors usually will not prescribe misoprostol to females* of childbearing potential.

Some females of childbearing potential taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have a high risk of complications from stomach ulcers. Doctors may prescribe misoprostol to these females under specific conditions. These may include using effective contraception to prevent pregnancy. They also may include confirming negative pregnancy tests within 2 weeks of starting misoprostol.

You can learn more about this warning by talking with your doctor.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term female to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.