After taking mifepristone , many people feel little or nothing right away, though some have mild cramping or light bleeding/spotting. The stronger effects usually happen after the second medicine, misoprostol , which is typically taken 24 to 48 hours later and causes the uterus to cramp and bleed so the pregnancy tissue passes.

What is normal

  • Mild cramping or spotting after mifepristone can happen, but it is also normal to feel fine.
  • After misoprostol, bleeding and cramping usually start within a few hours, and heavy bleeding with clots is common for several hours.
  • Some people also get nausea, diarrhea, chills, low-grade fever, tiredness, or dizziness.

Follow-up

You should have a follow-up check about 7 to 14 days after the first dose to make sure the pregnancy has ended completely.

It is sometimes still necessary to have a procedure if tissue remains in the uterus or if the medication does not fully work.

Get urgent help

Seek medical care right away if you have very heavy bleeding, severe pain, fainting, or symptoms that worry you.

A practical rule used by clinics is soaking through two pads an hour for two hours in a row, or flu-like symptoms that are getting worse instead of better after 24 hours.

Simple timeline

  1. Take mifepristone.
  1. Usually 24 to 48 hours later, take misoprostol.
  1. Cramping and bleeding begin, often within 1 to 4 hours after misoprostol.
  1. Follow up with a clinician in about 1 to 2 weeks.

Important note

If this question is about a real situation and the person has one-sided severe pain, fainting, shoulder pain, or very heavy bleeding , they should get urgent medical care now, because those can be emergency warning signs.