Evaluation of Intramuscular 15(S)-15-Methyl Prostaglandin F2α Tromethamine Salt for Induction of Abortion, Medications to Attenuate side effects, and Intracervical Laminaria Tents

Abstract

Sixty gravidas 8 to 20 menstrual weeks' gestation were studied to evaluate (1) the efficacy of intramuscularly administered 15(S)-15-methyl prostaglandin F2alpha tromethamine (15(S)-Me-PGF2alpha) as an abortifacient; (2) the effectiveness of prochlorperazine and Lomotil for attenuation of vomiting and diarrhea; and (3) the practicability of augmenting this prostaglandin dose schedule with intracervical laminaria tents. Group I subjects received 250 mug of 15(S)-Me-PGF2alpha intramuscularly every 2 hours for the initial 24 hours and 500 mug for the next 24-hour period. Group II received the same dose schedule of prostaglandin and prearranged doses of prochlorperazine and Lomotil. Group III received the same dose schedule of prostaglandin after intracervical laminaria tents had been inserted, and prochlorperazine and Lomotil were administered by the prearranged dose schedule. It appears that (1) the 15(S)-Me-PGF2alpha was effective in inducing abortion; (2) a significant decrease in body temperature occurred; (3) the abortifacient effectiveness of this prostaglandin dose schedule was not altered by the regimen of prochlorperazine and Lomotil; (4) only diarrhea was significantly attenuated with the regimen of prochlorperazine and Lomotil; and (5) laminaria augmentation was not useful.