Consumer Information for: PROSTIN E2 VAGINAL GEL

Consumer Information

Information about the product including what the product is used for, dosage, warnings, proper use and side effects. This summary will not tell you everything about the product. Contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the product.


What the medication is used for

PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel is used to induce labour in pregnant women at the end or near the end of pregnancy.

What it does

PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel is an oxytocic agent, its effect on uterine smooth muscle leads to cervix ripening (opening of the uterus) and results in labour induction.

When it should not be used

PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel should not be used if:

  • You cannot be given Oxytocic drugs or unable to have prolonged contractions of the uterus;
  • You have a ruptured amniotic membranes or choriamnionitis (inflammation of the fetal membranes);
  • You have unexplained vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
  • You are unable to have vaginal delivery;
  • You are allergic to prostaglandins or any oxytocic drug or any of the ingredients in PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel;
  • You have no engagement of the baby’s head (baby’s head down into the pelvic), or abnormal position of the placenta or umbilical cord; or fetal malpresentation (baby in the difficult position for the birth process);
  • You have or have had untreated pelvic inflammatory disease;
  • You are having heart, lung, kidney or liver disease.

PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel should not be used together with other oxytocics.

What the medicinal ingredient is

Dinoprostone

What the non-medicinal ingredients are

Colloidal silicon dioxide and triacetin

What dosage form it comes in

PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel is semi-translucent viscous gel in a single dose pre-filled-syringe. Each syringe contains 1.0 mg dinoprostone / 2.0 mL or 2.0 mg dinoprostone/2.5 mL.

Each syringe contains:
1.0 mg dinoprostone (PGE2)/2.5 mL Syringe (3 gm)
2.0 mg dinoprostone (PGE2)/2.5 mL Syringe (3 gm)

Warnings and precautions

PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel should be given to you by a doctor experienced in using the drug.

PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel may cause uterine rupture and/or cervical laceration (tearing), and anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy (amniotic fluid embolism)

BEFORE you use PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel talk to your doctor if:

  • You are 35 years of age and over with complications during pregnancy;
  • You have had blood clotting problem after giving birth (post-partum);
  • You have or have had seizure;
  • You have asthma or glaucoma;
  • You have heart, liver, kidney problem.
Interactions with this medication

Before receiving PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel, tell your doctor if you are taking other drugs, including non-prescription and natural health products.

Proper use of this medication

Usual Dose

An initial dose of 1 mg is to be given to you intra vaginally. A dose of 1 mg or 2 mg PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel may be repeated, once, 6 hours later depending upon the response to the initial dose.

You should remain lying down (a lateral or supine position) for 30 minutes after the drug was given to prevent leakage of the gel.

Overdose

In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose

N/A

Side effects and what to do about them
  • Possible side effects on mother: strong uterine contractions, failed induction, failure to progress, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction, analyphylactic shock, anaphylactoid reaction), back pain, uterine rupture, abnormal uterine contraction, warm feeling in vagina, cardiac arrest.
  • Possible side effects on baby: abnormal heart rate, distress (unwell), still birth.
  • Serious side effect reported with the use of PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel: blood clots inside the blood vessels throughout the body (disseminated intravascular coagulation).
Serious side effects, how often they happen and what to do about them
Symptom / effect Talk with your doctor or pharmacist only if severe Talk with your doctor or pharmacist in all cases Stop taking drug and talk with your doctor or pharmacist
Common
Abnormal labour affecting fetus   ✔  
Fetal distress syndrome   ✔  
Increased uterine contractions   ✔  

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking PROSTIN E2 Vaginal Gel, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store

Store in a refrigerator at 2-8°C

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance Program by one of the following three ways:

  • Report online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
  • Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
  • Complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and:
    • Fax toll-free to 1-866-678-6789, or
    • Mail to:
      Canada Vigilance Program
      Health Canada
      Postal Locator 0701D
      Ottawa ON K1A 0K9

Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines are available on the MedEffectTM Canada Web site at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect.

NOTE: Should you require information related to the management of side effects, contact your health professional. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

More information

This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found at: http://www.pfizer.ca

This leaflet was prepared by Pfizer Canada Inc.

Last revised: September 13, 2012

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