Pharmacist Resources
Medication abortion was approved by the FDA in 2000 and has become the most common method of abortion. In 2007 the FDA placed a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) on the medication abortion drug combination of mifepristone (Mifeprex; RU486) and misoprostol (Cytotec), requiring in-clinic dispensing and ingestion. Due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the FDA temporarily removed the in-clinic requirements, opening the door for telehealth prescribing and online or retail dispensing of the drugs for medication abortion care. In December 2021, the FDA announced they would make a permanent change to the REMS and removed the in-clinic requirements. The finalized mifepristone REMS was released on January 3, 2023, allowing for certified prescribers to send prescriptions to certified pharmacies. Certified prescribers currently dispensing mifepristone in their clinics may continue to do so. The updated REMS will now allow brick-and-mortar, mail-order, online, local, and chain pharmacies to seek certification to stock and dispense mifepristone.
The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol for medication abortion is incredibly safe. Since 2000, more than 4.9 million patients have had a medication abortion, with less than 0.5% resulting in adverse outcomes, making it safer than several over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen and other prescriptions like Viagra or Accutane. The COVID-19 Pandemic has fast-tracked the utilization of medication abortion care. Today, more than 54% of all abortions in the U.S. are administered by medication.
Mifepristone and Misoprostol Care Guides
Drug Sponsors Information
- Danco
- Genbiopro
- Full REMS
- Patient Agreement Form
- Pharmacy Agreement Form (Danco Laboratories, LLC-Mifeprex)
- Pharmacy Agreement Form (GenBioPro, Inc.-Mifepristone Tablets 200mg)
- Prescriber Agreement Form (Danco Laboratories, LLC-Mifeprex)
- Prescriber Agreement Form (GenBioPro, Inc.-Mifepristone Tablets 200mg)
- Questions for Danco? Email Danco
- Questions for GenBioPro? Email GenBioPro
Safe Online Pharmacies
What is being said
What the Trade Associations are Saying
- APhA
- Reproductive Health Care: Navigating The Dobbs Decision
- New FDA policy expands access of mifepristone dispensing to certified retail pharmacies
- CVS and Walgreens Plan to Offer Abortion Pill Where Abortion is Legal - The New York Times
- Now able to sell abortion pill, U.S. pharmacies weigh if they should - Reuters
- What to know about getting abortion pills at your local pharmacy - The Washington Post
- NCPA
- ASOP