I was induced early due to pre eclampsia and I did not have any drugs at all. I was 1cm, had ARM and then syntocin in a drip that gave me contractions 5min apart from word go, then they progressed to 1min apart after about a half hour. So it is doable, just depends on the person and the labour itself. I was very lucky mine was quick and managable.

Nothing wrong with having an epidural, esp in a full on fast paced induced labour.