In pregnant women who are at or near term, dinoprostone is used to prepare the cervix for the induction of labour. You should speak with your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you want to take this drug for a different purpose.

Dinoprostone is available as a gel that is injected high into the vagina as well as a vaginal implant. In a hospital or clinic setting, it is given by a medical practitioner using a syringe. You should follow your doctor’s instructions and continue to lay down after the medication has been taken for up to two hours. If the initial dose of the gel does not result in the desired reaction, a second dose of the gel may be given in 6 hours.

Before taking dinoprostone,

• If you have an allergy to dinoprostone or any other medication, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away.
• In addition to vitamins, be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know what prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking.
• Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: asthma; anaemia; diabetes; high or low blood pressure; placenta previa; glaucoma or increased eye pressure; cephalopelvic disproportion; previous difficult or traumatic deliveries; unexplained vaginal bleeding; or heart, liver, or kidney disease.

Dinoprostone side effects are rare, but they can happen. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Redness of the skin
• Headache
• Fever

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Unsavoury uterine discharge
• Persistent fever
• Shivering and chills
• Vaginal bleeding increased days after treatment
• Stiffness or pain in the chest
• Body rash
• Hives
• Having trouble breathing
• Odd facial swelling

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or over the phone if you suffer a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Dinoprostone gel needs to be kept in the fridge. The inserts need to be kept frozen. Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children.

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments. Do not share your medication with anybody else.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.