Can I Get the Abortion Pill Over the Counter?
“Abortion pill” is the common name for two different medicines that are used together to terminate a pregnancy: Mifepristone and Misoprostol. It is also called RU486 and often referred to as a medical or chemical abortion.
Medical abortions are a three stage process. First, you need to have a sonogram to both date your pregnancy and ensure the pregnancy is viable. If you meet the qualifications, you immediately take a pill called mifepristone. Pregnancy requires a hormone called progesterone to grow normally and healthily. Mifepristone blocks your body’s own progesterone, stopping the pregnancy from growing.
Finally, after returning home, within 24 to 48 hours you take a second medicine, misoprostol. This medicine causes the pregnancy to be expulsed from your uterus. There are many side-effects that can be discussed during your appointment. It is critical that there is follow-up medical care to ensure that there are not complications.
You cannot get the abortion pill over the counter. It must be prescribed by a physician. In fact, the FDA warns against purchasing online abortion-inducing drugs. This puts the patient at risk of taking a drug that has not been approved by the FDA.
For more information on the Abortion Pill and other options, please make an appointment at Prestonwood Pregnancy Center.