Abortion Pill CVS, Walgreens to Carry Linked to Death, Infections, and Blood, Cardiac, Psychiatric, Vascular, Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Reproductive, Fertility, Breast Disorders: FDA
Abortion Pill CVS, Walgreens to Carry Linked to Death, Infections, and Blood, Cardiac, Psychiatric, Vascular, Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Reproductive, Fertility, Breast Disorders: FDA
No long-term studies have been conducted to assess mifepristone's potential to cause cancer, according to FDA package insert.
Pharmacy giants Walgreens and CVS have announced plans to dispense the controversial abortion pill MIFEPREX (mifepristone), manufactured by Danco Laboratories, in several states across the U.S.
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Mifepristone induces abortion by dilating the cervix and blocking the hormone progesterone.
CVS, an official partner of the World Economic Forum (WEF), is the nation’s largest drugstore chain, with nearly 9,400 locations.
A CVS Health spokeswoman said the drugstore chain will begin filling prescriptions for mifepristone in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Walgreens, with about 8,700 stores, plans to dispense the drug in Illinois, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
However, the decision to stock the drug has sparked a wave of concern among health professionals and advocates, as the drug’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) package insert outlines a slew of negative health aspects associated with its use.
You can read the package insert below:
Death:
There have been 32 reports of deaths as of December 31, 2022, in patients associated with mifepristone since the product was approved in September 2000, according to the FDA’s website.
These included “two cases of ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy located outside the womb, such as in the fallopian tubes) resulting in death; and several fatal cases of severe systemic infection (also called sepsis).”
The number of deaths could be higher because the FDA only reported adverse reactions in patients “through ten weeks gestation.”
Infections:
The FDA package insert for MIFEPREX highlights potential post-abortal infections, including endometritis, endomyometritis, parametritis, pelvic infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, and salpingitis.
These adverse reactions have been reported voluntarily, raising questions about the drug’s safety.
Blood Disorders:
One of the documented adverse effects of MIFEPREX is anemia, which could pose serious health risks to individuals undergoing abortion procedures.
Cardiac Disorders:
Patients may experience tachycardia, syncope, and fainting, as outlined in the FDA package insert.
Such cardiac complications raise concerns about the safety of the drug, particularly for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions.
Psychiatric Disorders:
The package insert notes potential psychiatric effects, including anxiety, which could exacerbate the emotional distress often associated with the decision to terminate a pregnancy.
Vascular Disorders:
Instances of syncope, fainting, loss of consciousness, hypotension (including orthostatic), and light-headedness have been reported post-administration of MIFEPREX, indicating potential risks to cardiovascular health.
Respiratory Disorders:
Shortness of breath is listed as a potential adverse reaction to MIFEPREX, underscoring concerns about its impact on respiratory function.
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Gastrointestinal Disorders:
Patients may experience dyspepsia, or indigestion, following the use of MIFEPREX, adding to the list of potential discomforts associated with the drug.
Musculoskeletal, Connective Tissue, and Bone Disorders:
Back pain and leg pain have been reported post-administration of MIFEPREX, raising concerns about its effects on musculoskeletal health.
Reproductive System and Breast Disorders:
Of significant concern are the potential risks of uterine rupture, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, hematometra, and leukorrhea associated with MIFEPREX use, highlighting the need for careful consideration of its implications for reproductive health.
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions:
Pain at the administration site is listed as a common adverse reaction to MIFEPREX.
Skull Deformities:
Skull deformities were detected in rabbit studies at approximately 1/6 the human dose of MIFEPREX.
MIFEPREX is Present in Human Breast Milk:
MIFEPREX is present in human milk, with potential implications for breastfeeding infants.
The lack of information on its effects in breastfed infants underscores the need for further research in this area.
“There is no information on the effects of MIFEPREX in a regimen with misoprostol in a breastfed infant or on milk production,” the FDA insert reads.
Carcinogenesis:
The long-term carcinogenic potential of MIFEPREX remains unknown, as no long-term studies have been conducted to evaluate its impact on cancer risk.
“No long-term studies to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of mifepristone have been performed,” according to the insert.
Impairment of Fertility:
In rats, administration of mifepristone has been shown to severely disrupt estrus cycles, raising concerns about its potential impact on fertility.
“In rats, administration of 0.3 mg/kg mifepristone per day caused severe disruption of the estrus cycles for the three weeks of the treatment period,” the package insert confirms.
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