RU 486 - the abortion drug

RU 486 is the general name for the drug used for 'medical abortions' - this is a different form of abortion of the baby to surgical abortions. However they are still abortions and result in the death of the baby.

RU 486 - or pills to provide medical abortions - was the subject of a vote in the federal parliament in February 2006.
See our separate page on that debate and vote.

The medical drug for RU 486 is called Mifepristone- the drug is generally used with a second drug, a prostaglandin called misoprostol, which initiates uterine contractions and usually causes the embryonic baby to be expelled from the uterus. 

The manufacturer of Mifeprex (using the drug Mifeprex) in the USA is Danco Laboratories.
See their website on the pill.

Some sources:

1. Article on RU 486 and the federal debate from Salt Shakers' November 2005 Journal.
Read the article: Abortion - RU 486 on the agenda

2. The RU-486 Files
Detailed list of articles and information... click here.

3. The US Food and Drug Administration Patient Information Sheet
Mifepristone (marketed as Mifeprex) Information Sheet. Click here.

4. RU-486 Has Killed Ten Women
An article by John Wilke, on Life Issues...
This documents the deaths of women from RU 486. Click here.

5. Analysis of Severe Adverse Events Related to the Use of Mifepristone as an Abortifacient
Authoritative Journal article: The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, February 2006.
This study analyses 637 'Adverse Event Reports' of 607 unique events relating to the use of RU 486.
Click here for information about the study (7 pages). Click here for the abstract. Click here for the FULL article.

6. Abortion Drug Adverse Events Reported
Friday, December 30, 2005, Web MD By Salynn Boyles.
News report from Web MD about the above study. Click here.

7. Abortion Pill RU 486 - Christian Medical Association statement
Position statement on RU 486 from the Christian Medical Association. Click here.
In 2002 the CMDA issued a press release about the deaths of women from RU 486 - commenting on the politics involved and calling on the US FDA to stop allowing the use of RU 486. Click here for the news release.

8. RU 486 Facts
This website says "RU486facts.org is designed to answer the most common questions about RU-486, simply and directly, without hype or bias."
Click here to visit the website. 

9. Danco website
Danco is the manufacturer of Mifepristone.
Their website 'Early Option Pill' is designed to promote the use of the drug mifespristone (Mifeprex) or RU 486.