Misoprostol

Prostaglandin E1 Analog — ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM

Key facts

Misoprostol is an ofp drug in the Prostaglandin E1 Analog class catalogued in DrugCentral. It was first approved by the FDA in 1988. DrugCentral lists 4 molecular targets, including PTGER3, PTGER4 and PTGER2. Recorded indications include Osteoarthritis in Patients at High Ulcer Risk, Postpartum hemorrhage, Prevention of CMV Disease After Organ Transplant and Prevention of NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer.

• Approval status: ofp (first approved 1988 by the FDA).
• Drug class: Prostaglandin E1 Analog.
• Molecular targets: PTGER3, PTGER4, PTGER2 and PTGFR (4 listed in DrugCentral).
• Indications: Osteoarthritis in Patients at High Ulcer Risk, Postpartum hemorrhage, Prevention of CMV Disease After Organ Transplant, Prevention of NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patient at High Ulcer Risk.
• ATC code: A02BB01 (Prostaglandins).
• Molecular formula: C22H38O5; molecular weight 382.54 g/mol.

Indications & contraindications

Drug–disease relationships curated by DrugCentral (OMOP / SNOMED concepts).

Indications (5)

• Osteoarthritis in Patients at High Ulcer Risk
• Postpartum hemorrhage
• Prevention of CMV Disease After Organ Transplant
• Prevention of NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer
• Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patient at High Ulcer Risk

Off-label uses (7)

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Cervical ripening procedure
• Duodenal ulcer disease
• Gastric ulcer
• NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer
• Peptic ulcer
• Pregnancy with abortive outcome

Contraindications (30)

• Acute nephropathy
• Alcoholism
• Anemia
• Asthma
• Blood coagulation disorder
• Bloody Vomit
• Body fluid retention
• Cardiovascular event risk
• Cerebrovascular accident
• Chronic heart failure
• Coronary artery bypass graft
• Dehydration
• Deliveries by cesarean
• Disease of liver
• Disorder of cardiovascular system
• Drug-induced hepatitis
• Edema
• Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• Gastrointestinal perforation
• Gastrointestinal ulcer
• Gynecological Surgery
• Hepatic failure
• Hypertensive disorder
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Liver function tests abnormal
• Myocardial infarction
• Non-infective meningitis
• Pregnancy, function
• Smokes tobacco daily
• Uterine Rupture in Pregnancy

Mechanism & targets

• Established pharmacologic class: Prostaglandin E1 Analog

Molecular targets (4)

Target	Gene	Action	Activity
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3 subtype	PTGER3	agonist	Ki 8.10
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 subtype	PTGER4	agonist	Ki 7.60
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP2 subtype	PTGER2	agonist	Ki 7.50
Prostaglandin F2-alpha receptor	PTGFR	unknown	Ki 5.03

Regulatory approvals (2)

Date	Agency	Marketed as	Applicant	Orphan
2023-04-28	PMDA	—	Linepharma K.K.
1988-12-27	FDA	—	GD SEARLE LLC

ATC classification

ATC code	Therapeutic hierarchy
A02BB01	ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › DRUGS FOR ACID RELATED DISORDERS › DRUGS FOR PEPTIC ULCER AND GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GORD) › Prostaglandins
G02AD06	GENITO URINARY SYSTEM AND SEX HORMONES › OTHER GYNECOLOGICALS › UTEROTONICS › Prostaglandins
M01AE56	MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM › ANTIINFLAMMATORY AND ANTIRHEUMATIC PRODUCTS › ANTIINFLAMMATORY AND ANTIRHEUMATIC PRODUCTS, NON-STEROIDS › Propionic acid derivatives

Reported adverse-event signals

Strongest FDA FAERS disproportionality signals (log-likelihood ratio). A signal is a statistical association in spontaneous reports, not proof that the drug causes the event.

MedDRA term	LLR
Abortion incomplete	9644.4
Haemorrhage	4007.6
Pregnancy	1454.4
Endometritis	990.9
Heavy menstrual bleeding	718.9
Foetal exposure during pregnancy	633.0
Anaemia	385.3
Induced abortion failed	384.5
Exposure during pregnancy	368.0
Uterine rupture	288.5
Muscle spasms	280.2
Retained products of conception	263.4

Chemical structure

Full physicochemical, ADMET and 3D-structure analysis of Misoprostol is on its molecule page.

• Molecular formula: C₂₂H₃₈O₅
• Molecular weight: 382.54 g/mol
• CAS number: 59122-46-2
• InChIKey: OJLOPKGSLYJEMD-URPKTTJQSA-N
• PubChem CID: 5282381

CCCCC(C)(O)C\C=C\[C@H]1[C@H](O)CC(=O)[C@@H]1CCCCCCC(=O)OC

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the structured data on this page, not written by hand.

What is Misoprostol used for?

DrugCentral lists the following indications for Misoprostol: Osteoarthritis in Patients at High Ulcer Risk, Postpartum hemorrhage, Prevention of CMV Disease After Organ Transplant, Prevention of NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patient at High Ulcer Risk.

How does Misoprostol work?

Its molecular targets in DrugCentral include PTGER3 (agonist), PTGER4 (agonist), PTGER2 (agonist) and PTGFR.

When was Misoprostol first approved?

Misoprostol was first approved by the FDA in 1988.

What drug class does Misoprostol belong to?

Misoprostol is in the Prostaglandin E1 Analog class.

What is the chemical formula of Misoprostol?

Misoprostol has the molecular formula C22H38O5 and a molecular weight of 382.54 g/mol.

Sources

• DrugCentral drug card 1817 — structure, indications, targets, approvals, pharmacologic classes (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• ChEMBL CHEMBL1201377 — compound record and bioactivity
• PubChem CID 5282381 — chemical identifiers
• DrugBank DB00929 — drug record
• FDA UNII 0E43V0BB57 — substance identity
• DailyMed: FDA labels for Misoprostol — current prescribing information (label search)
• UniProt P43115 (PTGER3) — target protein
• UniProt P35408 (PTGER4) — target protein
• UniProt P43116 (PTGER2) — target protein
• UniProt P43088 (PTGFR) — target protein
• FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (openFDA FAERS) — adverse-event signals, as aggregated by DrugCentral

How this page is built: methodology · editorial policy & corrections.