Acute intravaginal misoprostol toxicity with fetal demise

We report a case of an overdose with fetal demise from the intravaginal administration of misoprostol. A 25-yr-old gravid female self-administered 6000 micrograms misoprostol intravaginally and 600 micrograms orally. She rapidly developed shaking chills, abdominal and extremity cramping, emesis, and confusion. Hyperthermia and hypotension developed within 3.5 h after drug administration, with a temperature of 41.4 degrees C (106 degrees F). Ultrasound at 3.5 h after drug administration showed no fetal movement or heart motion. A nonviable fetus was delivered by emergent cesarean section. Treatment of the mother was supportive and included intravaginal decontamination and endotracheal intubation with neuroparalytic therapy to control agitation and hyperthermia. Recovery was complete within 15 h of drug administration.