American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Practice Guidelines for Induction of Labor (See ACOG Practice Guideline, No. 10)
Cost
According to the A.C.O.G. committee, there is a significant cost difference between misoprostol [trade name = Cytotecl] and dinoprostone [trade name = Cervidil Prepidil] for induction of labor. The price of a 100-µg tablet of misoprostol may range from $0.36 to $1.20, compared with a dinoprostone gel kit that ranges from $65 to $75 and the dinoprostone vaginal insert that costs approximately $165. The A.C.O.G. committee notes that the cost would increase if oxytocin augmentation [trade name = Pitocin] were needed. In addition, dinoprostone is an unstable compound that requires refrigeration to maintain its potency, whereas misoprostol is stable at room temperature.
