The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came to a decision this week and approved a new labeling for the abortion pill, Mifeprex (mifepristone). The news comes as victory for pro-abortion groups and women in conservative states as more women will have access to medication abortion. However, it earned the ire of anti-abortion campaigners that think there are dire and fatal consequences.
What Is Mifeprex/mifepristone?
Mifeprex is a pill that helps terminate early pregnancy. Live Science shares that Mifeprex or mifepristone is taken with misoprostol to induce abortion. Taking these two drugs serves as an alternative to surgical abortion.
FDA's Changes On Mifeprex's Label
The drug's prescription label has been updated by the agency. Previously, Mifeprex can only be prescribed up to 49 days of pregnancy. The new label allows health providers to provide the drug up to 70 days of gestation. It does not have to be prescribed by a surgical abortion provider.
The dosage has also been reduced from 600 mg to 200 mg. The lower dosage reduces side effects and thus lessens trips to the doctor. Furthermore, alternative medicine abortion is also made affordable especially for women in low-income families or those in rural areas.
"The evidence-based regimen for medication abortion has been shown to improve efficacy, reduce adverse effects, and even lower the cost of medication abortion," the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists wrote in a release. "The updated label will also make medication abortion accessible to more women, including previously underserved and rural women."
#FDA revises instructions for #abortion drug #Mifeprex; health advocates hail victory https://t.co/tkcADF2lGW pic.twitter.com/FchDjXwXf9
— UPI.com (@UPI) March 30, 2016
Expanded Abortion Consequences
Anti-abortion groups are angered at FDA's decision. The new label for Mifeprex has stunted their efforts to limit the drug's access to women. They claim that some women that have taken the drugs had negative health reactions and some have died.
However, drug manufacturer Danco Laboratories dispeled the claims and said that there was no proof any deaths. "It appears this has been done for the convenience and the profitability of the abortion industry," Randall O'Bannon of the National Right to Life Committee said, reports NY Times.
