How is Ginestril taken? Instructions for using this medication will be described in the materials of this article. In it, we will present patient reviews, the composition of the drug, its pharmacological characteristics, indications and contraindications.
Composition, form
What components does the Ginestril medication include? The instructions that accompany this tool say that its active substance is mifepristone. The medication also includes additional ingredients in the form of potato starch, lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, magnesium stearate and sodium carboxymethyl starch.
You can buy this medicine in tablets, which are packaged in packs of cardboard.
Pharmacological features of the drug
Do you know what Ginestril is? Instructions for use will help to understand the principle of action of this drug, as well as tell you about what indications it is used in medical practice.
The medication in question is a steroidal antigestagen agent of synthetic origin. The therapeutic efficacy of this medicine is determined by its composition.
After the arrival of mifepristone in the human body, it inhibits the effects of progesterone, but does not exhibit progestational activity.
Experts note the antagonism of this drug with glucocorticoids due to competition of binding at the receptor level.
As you know, the main role in the formation of uterine leiomyoma is assigned to female sex hormones, in particular progesterone. In this regard, mifepristone can be prescribed to the patient to block progesterone receptors. As a result of such treatment, a delay in tumor growth occurs, as well as a decrease in the size of the myomatous nodes and uterus.
Pharmacokinetic properties of the drug
What pharmacokinetic features does the Ginestril medication have? Instructions, reviews by experienced doctors say that when taken orally, the highest concentration of this medicine is observed after about 80 minutes. Moreover, its bioavailability is 69%.
The medication in question binds to plasma proteins by 98% (with albumin and acid alpha-1-glycoprotein).
After the distribution phase, a slow elimination phase begins. In this case, the concentration of the drug substance in the blood is halved (between 15 and 72 hours).
Withdrawal of the drug proceeds quickly, with a period of 18 hours.
Indications for use
What can Ginestril be prescribed from? Instructions for use, reviews of experts say the following indications:
- treatment of uterine leiomyoma;
- interruption of uterine pregnancy up to 42 days;
- induction (or stimulation) of labor (including during full-term pregnancy);
- emergency contraception (postcoital) with the unreliability of the contraceptive used, as well as in the period after unprotected intercourse.
Contraindications
The drug "Ginestril" for abortion cannot be used for:
- clinically unconfirmed pregnancy;
- permissible ectopic pregnancy;
- pregnancy that occurred after the cancellation of contraceptive hormones, or when using intrauterine contraceptives;
- pregnancy after 42 days.
With leiomyoma, this medication should not be prescribed in the following cases:
- with submucous placement of myomatous nodes;
- with ovarian tumor;
- with endometrial hyperplasia;
- if the size of the leiomyoma is large.
Ginestril tablets for labor stimulation are not used for:
- severe gestosis;
- abnormal presentation of the fetus;
- preeclampsia;
- eclampsia;
- preterm or postponed pregnancy;
- imbalances in the size of the fetal head and pelvis of the woman in childbirth;
- undiagnosed bleeding from the genital tract during gestation.
Does the Ginestril medication have general contraindications? The instruction gives a positive answer to this question. These prohibitions include the following conditions:
- porphyria;
- long-term glucocorticoid therapy;
- severe anemia;
- renal or liver failure (in any form);
- violation of hemostasis (past treatment with anticoagulants);
- extragenital pathology of a severe nature;
- pathology of the female reproductive system, which is inflammatory in nature;
- hypersensitivity (including a history);
- nicotine addiction, especially after 35 years of age.
With extreme caution, this medication is taken with:
- obstructive pulmonary diseases (chronic);
- CHF;
- arterial hypertension;
- arrhythmias;
- bronchial asthma;
- heart rhythm disturbance.
The drug "Ginestril": instructions
To terminate a pregnancy (patient reviews about this medication will be discussed a bit later), only a narrow specialist should prescribe this drug. Moreover, taking pills in this case should only be in the presence of a gynecologist.
So how to use the Ginestril medication? The instruction for abortion states that it must be used once in a dose of 600 mg.
The drug is taken 1-1.5 hours after a meal and washed down with 100 ml of water.
To increase the effectiveness of the drug, it is possible to additionally prescribe 400 mg of misoprostol (i.e. synthetic prostaglandin E1).
After taking the pill, the patient should be under the supervision of an obstetrician for at least two hours. After 1.5 or 2 days, an ultrasound examination is performed. After another 1-2 weeks, a clinical examination and repeated ultrasound are performed, and the content of hCG in the blood is checked to confirm a miscarriage.
In the event that the drug did not help (that is, the pregnancy continues), then the doctor recommends vacuum aspiration with further examination (histological) of the results of the procedure.
In order to stimulate labor, the drug is prescribed once in a dosage of 200 mg. They also do this in the presence of a gynecologist. After a day, the medication is repeated in the same dose.
After 2-3 days, the expansion of the birth canal is assessed. In this case, determine the possibility of further use of "Oxytocin" or prostaglandins.
How to use the Ginestril medication for uterine leiomyoma? The instruction states that with such a diagnosis, the drug is usually prescribed in a single dose equal to 50 mg. The drug is taken orally for three months.
As for postcoital contraception, doctors recommend using the medication in question in an amount of 10 mg for three days after unprotected intercourse (regardless of the menstrual phase). In this case, it is advisable to take tablets two hours before or after meals.
Overdose cases
The use of the drug in a dose of not more than two grams does not cause the development of any negative effects. When using a medication greater than the specified amount, the patient may form adrenal insufficiency, which requires symptomatic therapy.
Side effects
Taking the Ginestril medication often causes side effects such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, urticaria, diarrhea, amenorrhea, lochiometer, spotting, uterine subinvolution, hyperthermia, menstrual cycle disorder, weakness, and deepening of the uterus and appendages discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen. If such symptoms occur, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Drug interaction
It is highly recommended not to take the drug "Ginestril" simultaneously with NSAIDs. It should also be noted that when combined with glucorticoids, it is necessary to increase their dose, but only after consulting a doctor.
Special recommendations
It is highly recommended not to take this medication as a permanent contraceptive.
When using the Ginestril agent to terminate a pregnancy, the patient should be informed of other options for this procedure, especially if after two weeks the pregnancy continues or incomplete abortion is observed (there may be a risk of developing pathologies in the fetus).
Price and analogues
The following medicines act as analogues of the Ginestril preparation: Ginepriston, Pencrofton, Agesta, Mifepriston, Zhenale, Mifolian, Mifegin, Mifeprex, Miropriston.
The price of the drug in question is very high and amounts to 5000-6000 rubles.
Reviews about the drug
There are no unambiguous and specific positive or negative reviews about the Ginestril drug. However, most patients approve of this remedy. They claim that it is very effective and relatively safe to take.
It should also be noted that some people, on the contrary, often observe the development of side effects.
All these reviews suggest that taking this medication should be done only after consulting a doctor.