Miscarriage/abortion and drugs (esp. Ergolines)

[Jamshyd]

Now if I am not mistaken, LSD was discovered as part of a series of drugs that hoffman was researching: uterine stimulants ("ecbolics"). I have several questions:

1. I knew that many Ergolines were found to have in fact an effect on uterine contraction. I was never able to find out if such effects ammounted to a miscarriage if a woman were to take such drugs before birth (since their function was to help with the birth process, if I'm not mistaken). I also never found out if any of these drugs made it to the market for such purpose (if memory serves)?

2. Which leads me to the next question and an obvious one: LSD is listed as cat. X for pregnancy. It is common sense (I HOPE!) for a pregnant woman not to take drugs. However, in the case of LSD and ergolines specifically, does taking it upon pregnancy simply cause damage to the foetus, or does it guarantee abortion?

3. Did hoffman actually find LSD useful for his purpose, despite some, err... inconvenient (in that situation) side-effects?

4. Can this be said about other Ergolines? Morning Glory, for example? What about things like Hydergine or Ergotamine?

5. Now, if indeed ergolines are abortive, then why have they not been used so historically (and currently, in poor countries) when people would, instead, use much more dangerous methods?

 

[Ham-milton]

I don't know if they're reliably abortifacents, but they are certainly useful for that.

They're also used in birth, which is a lot more joyous use, imho.

 

[Jamshyd]

So they ARE used for childbirth? If so, which ones?

I am asking both about abortion and childbirth, although my focus is on the former obviously. Please don't let your feelings on abortion influence your replies...

 

[Ham-milton]

Ergonovine, Injection
What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: ergot alkaloid

Generic and brand names: ergonovine, injection; Ergotrate Maleate
What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to prevent or stop uterine bleeding after childbirth or abortion. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.
What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your health care provider if you have medical problems such as:

* angina (chest pain) or other heart problems
* blood vessel disease
* high blood pressure
* kidney disease
* liver disease.

How do I use it?

The shots are given by your health care provider shortly after delivery of the baby. More than 1 shot may be needed to stop the bleeding.
What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Chest pain or heart palpitations, seizures, numbness in your arms or legs, shortness of breath, continued bleeding.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, headache, sweating, ringing in your ears.

Early Medicinal Uses1,2,13
In 1582 a preparation of ergot that was employed in small doses by midwives to produce strong uterine contractions was described by Adam Lonicer in his Kreuterbuch. The use of ergot as an oxytocic in childbirth became very popular in France, Germany, and the United States. The first use of the drug in official medicine was described by the American physician John Stearns in 1808, when he reported on the uterine contractile actions of a preparation of ergot obtained from blackened granary rye as a remedy for “quickening childbirth.” However, shortly thereafter the number of stillborn neonates rose to a point that the Medical Society of New York initiated an investigation. As a result of this enquiry, it was recommended in 1824 that ergot only be used in the control of postpartum hemorrhage. Ergot was introduced into the first edition of the United States Pharmacopeia in 1820 and into the London Pharmacopeia in 1836.

Ergotism is the name for sometimes severe pathological syndromes affecting humans or animals that have ingested ergot alkaloid-containing plant material, such as ergot-contaminated grains. The common name for ergotism is "St. Anthony's fire", in reference to the symptoms, such as severe burning sensations in the limbs.[3] These are caused by effects of ergot alkaloids on the vascular system due to vasoconstriction of blood vessels, sometimes leading to gangrene and loss of limbs due to severely restricted blood circulation. The neurotropic activities of the ergot alkaloids may also cause hallucinations and attendant irrational behaviour, convulsions, and even death.[1][2] Other symptoms include strong uterine contractions, nausea, seizures, and unconsciousness. Historically, controlled doses of ergot were used to induce abortions and to stop maternal bleeding after childbirth. Ergot alkaloids are also used in products such as Cafergot (containing caffeine and ergotamine or ergoline) to treat migraine headaches. Simple ergot extract is no longer used as a pharmaceutical preparation.[citation needed] Monks of the order of St. Anthony the Great specialized in treating ergotism victims with balms containing tranquilizing and circulation-stimulating plant extracts; they were also skilled in amputations.[citation needed]

so it looks like it's used to speed uterine contractions and to stop hemorrhage and had been used for abortion previously.

I don't think any of these can safely be used to induce an abortion. The abortion is a direct result of the uterine contractions and vasoconstriction.

A coat hanger seems safer than losing all the females limbs.

 

[Mr Blonde]

^

What's the risk of dangerous vasocontriction from ergot? The same as the alkaloids in Morning Glory/HBWR or a higher risk?

 

[Xaratoostrah]

Early Medicinal Uses1,2,13
In 1582 a preparation of ergot that was employed in small doses by midwives to produce strong uterine contractions was described by Adam Lonicer in his Kreuterbuch. The use of ergot as an oxytocic in childbirth became very popular in France, Germany, and the United States. The first use of the drug in official medicine was described by the American physician John Stearns in 1808, when he reported on the uterine contractile actions of a preparation of ergot obtained from blackened granary rye as a remedy for “quickening childbirth.” However, shortly thereafter the number of stillborn neonates rose to a point that the Medical Society of New York initiated an investigation. As a result of this enquiry, it was recommended in 1824 that ergot only be used in the control of postpartum hemorrhage. Ergot was introduced into the first edition of the United States Pharmacopeia in 1820 and into the London Pharmacopeia in 1836.

I can further confirm this since in Greece,the country i am from , ergot preparations were very popular for inducing childbirth.Midwives here were very respected for childbirth at home and each of them carried her own "bag of herbs and potions". I have heard two versions of the "oxytocic potion" one being a simple water extract of Ergot ,and the other resulting from puting Ergot in red wine.Both of them apparently hastened the proccess,one can safely assume though that many accidents (overdose,strain variance of alkaloidal make-up) would have occured. Pieces of cloth soaked in those potions was also used after the birth (along with oral wine with opium) intravaginaly to stop excessive bleeding.

Something tells me though that for an abortion to occur the fetus must be developed somehow ,far from the zygote stage of development.

 

[Ham-milton]

^

What's the risk of dangerous vasocontriction from ergot? The same as the alkaloids in Morning Glory/HBWR or a higher risk?

No, a much higher risk. Dangerous vasoconstriction comes before any psychoactive effect. That's not true of the MGS-alkaloid activity.