Other drug names:	A-Am  An-Az  B  C-Ch  Ci-Cz  D-Dh  Di-Dz  E  F  G  H  I-J  K-L  M-Mh  Mi-Mz  N-Nh  Ni-Nz  O  P-Pl  Pm-Pz  Q-R  S-Sn  So-Sz  T-To  Tp-Tz  U-V  W-Z  0-9

In the U.S.—

Hemabate

In Canada—

Prostin/15M

• Abortifacient
• Antihemorrhagic, postabortion uterine bleeding
• Antihemorrhagic, postpartum uterine bleeding
• Oxytocic

Carboprost (KAR-boe-prost) is given by injection to cause abortion. It is an oxytocic, which means it acts by causing the uterus to contract the way it does during labor and also helps the cervix to dilate.

Carboprost may also be used for other purposes as determined by your doctor.

Carboprost is to be administered only by or under the immediate care of your doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S. and Canada)

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 carboprost, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to carboprost or other oxytocics (medicines that stimulate the uterus to contract). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Other medicines—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 doctor if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

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

• Adrenal gland disease (history of)—Carboprost stimulates the body to produce steroids

• Anemia—In some patients, abortion with carboprost may result in loss of blood that may require a transfusion

• Asthma (or history of) or
• Lung disease—Carboprost may cause narrowing of the blood vessels in the lungs or narrowing of the lung passages

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) (history of)

• Epilepsy (or history of)—Rarely, seizures have occurred with use of carboprost

• Fibroid tumors of the uterus or
• Uterus surgery (history of)—There is an increased risk of rupture of the uterus

• Glaucoma—Rarely, the pressure within the eye has increased during use of carboprost

• Heart or blood vessel disease (or history of) or
• High blood pressure (or history of) or
• Low blood pressure (or history of)—Carboprost may cause changes in heart function or blood pressure changes

• Jaundice (history of)

• Kidney disease (or history of)

• Liver disease (or history of)—The body may not get carboprost out of the bloodstream at the usual rate, which may make the medicine work longer or cause toxic effects

Dosing—

The dose of carboprost will be different for different patients. Your doctor will give you the dose of this medicine and follow your care in a hospital or another health care setting. The following information includes only the average doses of carboprost.

• For injection dosage form:
  • For causing an abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy (13th to 24th week):
    • Adults—At first, 100 to 250 micrograms (mcg) injected deep into a muscle. Then, 250 to 500 mcg every one and one-half to three and one-half hours for up to two days.
  • For bleeding of the uterus after pregnancy:
    • Adults—250 mcg injected deep into a muscle. Your doctor may repeat this dose every fifteen to ninety minutes as needed.

.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Tell the health care professional immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Less common or rare
  • Fast or slow heartbeat;  headache (severe and continuing);  hives or skin rash;  increased pain of the uterus;  pale, cool, blotchy skin on arms or legs;  pressing or painful feeling in chest;  shortness of breath;  swelling of face, inside the nose, and eyelids;  tightness in chest;  trouble in breathing ;  weak or absent pulse in arms or legs;  wheezing 
  
  

Check with the health care professional as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• Constipation;  pain or inflammation at place of injection;  tender or mildly bloated abdomen or stomach 

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects usually go away after the medicine is stopped. However, let the health care professional know if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

• More common
  • Diarrhea;  nausea;  vomiting 
  
  

• Less common or rare
  • Chills or shivering;  dizziness;  fever (temporary);  flushing or redness of face;  headache;  stomach cramps or pain 
  
  

This procedure may result in some effects, which occur after the procedure is completed, that need medical attention. Check with your doctor if you notice any of the following:

• Chills or shivering (continuing);  fever (continuing);  foul-smelling vaginal discharge;  increase in uterus bleeding;  pain in lower abdomen 

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your health care professional.

Revised: 06/08/1994