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"   What is it used for?  Starting (inducing) labour (childbirth)     How does it work? Prostin E2 vaginal tablets and vaginal gel contain the active ingredient dinoprostone, which is a naturally occuring female hormone also known as prostaglandin E2. Prostaglandins are involved in naturally starting labour (childbirth). Dinoprostone has the same effect as natural prostaglandin E2 and is inserted into the vagina to artificially start (induce) labour. Dinoprostone plays an important role in the complex set of biochemical and structural alterations that are involved in the softening and opening of the cervix (sometimes referred to as cervical ripening) to allow the baby to pass through.  Dinoprostone causes the muscle of the cervix to relax and start to dilate. This subsequently triggers the muscle of the uterus (womb) to start contracting and labour to begin. The Prostin E2 vaginal tablet or gel is inserted high up into the vagina to induce labour. A second dose may be inserted if labour hasn&amp;#039;t started within six hours. Your doctor or midwife will do internal checks to make sure that your cervix is opening enough. They will also check your contractions (to make sure that they are not too strong) and your baby (to make sure he or she does not get distressed).   Use with caution in  Women who have had abnormally strong contractions of the womb in a previous pregnancy History of asthma  History of epilepsy   Glaucoma or history of raised pressure in the eye High blood pressure (hypertension) Decreased heart, liver or kidney function Scarring of the uterus    Not to be used in  Current heart, lung, liver or kidney disease Women who have previously had a caesarian section or other major surgery on the uterus Women who have had more than five full term pregnancies Women with a history of difficult labour or traumatic deliveries Women with pelvic inflammatory disease (unless you are receiving treatment for this) Cases where the baby is in distress (eg the baby is short of oxygen) Cases where the baby is in the wrong position for birth Cases where the size of the baby\u2019s head means there may be a problem in delivery Women whose placenta is lying low across the entrance to the womb, rather than being high up and out of the way during birth (placenta praevia) Women with unexplained vaginal bleeding  Women whose waters have broken  This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.   If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.   Side effects Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect. The side effects associated with this medicine are all events that can happen when the body goes into labour naturally. Talk to your midwife or doctor about this if you want to know more, as they will be able to give you the information that you need.  Nausea and vomiting Diarrhoea Abnormally strong contractions of the womb Problems with the baby&amp;#039;s heart rate Foetal distress Tearing of the womb wall if the contractions are very strong or prolonged Vaginal irritation  The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug&amp;#039;s manufacturer.   For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.   How can this medicine affect other medicines? Oxytocin is another medicine used to induce labour. If it is used in combination with dinoprostone it can cause excessively strong contractions of the uterus that could result in foetal distress. The manufacturer of Prostin E2 recommends that oxytocin should not be used at the same time as this medicine. If it is used after this medicine your contractions should be closely monitored.   Other medicines containing the same active ingredient  Propess    Last updated 03.05.2006 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/pregnancy/a8002/prostin-e2/>