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Talking Terbutaline

Preterm Labor Drug Causes Controversy

Terbutaline and preterm laborWhen a mom-to-be is struck with preterm labor, all she and the father can think about is stopping it. Every day that full labor can be fought off is another day of development for their baby, and in this case, a single day means a lot.

The medications to stop preterm labor are varied, as are their results. Some generate a great deal of controversy on their safety and effectiveness. But perhaps no drug for preterm labor has generated more debate than terbutaline.

What Is Terbutaline?
Dr. Randy A. Fink, a board certified OB/GYN in private practice in Miami, Fla., as well as a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, says that terbutaline is from a class of drugs known as beta-adrenergic receptor agonists. These drugs cause relaxation of smooth muscle, such as that of the uterus. The drug is approved by the FDA for treating asthma.

Terbutaline is from a class of drugs known as beta-adrenergic receptor agonists.

"When the uterus is contracting, such as during preterm labor, we would like to have a way to stop this activity – to relax the uterine muscles and stop the contractions," Dr. Fink says. "A similar medication known as ritodrine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1980 as a labor-inhibiting agent (known as a tocolytic), but the drug is no longer available on the market. Since terbutaline is so similar, it is frequently used for this purpose even though it is not FDA approved for labor inhibition."

Dr. Fink says it is important when looking at the effectiveness of any preterm labor drug to understand the difference between preterm labor and preterm contractions. The uterus is a muscle that is built to do one thing: contract. Many pregnant women have crampy preterm uterine contractions that cause them to present to labor and delivery units for evaluation and treatment. Terbutaline is often given in the form of a subcutaneous injection to stop these annoying uterine contractions. Terbutaline can also be given in oral form (a pill) for pregnant women to take at home to stop contractions.


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Mother of 4 says
3 days, 21 hours ago

I am having my 4th baby in a couple of weeks. I took Terbutaline with my first child in 98 and he has speach and learning disabilities, but dont know if it is due to taking it. I was on it from 5 months till 37weeks every 3 hours. I didnt take it with my daughter and she has ADHD. I was on it the last 2 months of my pregnancy with my 3rd child and he is fine. I have been on the terb for a little over a month with this last one and just stopped it. I really dont think that it has any effects that you can prove. Lets be honest ladies where are the drs going to get women to jepordize themselves let alone their unborn child for a study. You can refuse the treatment but you take greater risk of the baby being born to early and having other heath issues other than asthma or LD. Just be thankful that your child can lead a normal life and is not paralized or anything like that. family history has alot to do with LD, asthma, and other mental disorders.

JenniferBurris@live.com says
1 week, 6 days ago

They gave me Terbutaline on February 19th this year and told me that I was in preterm labor. I guess it might have been better to just have him now that I have seen what's going on. I am going to have a c-section by the 24th because he's gotten to be too big. He is at least ten pounds and I am at 36 weeks.

Anonymous says
January 20, 2010

Someone needs to ask Dr. Elliot if he has an economic interest in the pump he uses to perscribe terbutaline.

christine says
January 3, 2010

i took the drug in 1988, i had my daughter at 36 wks and took the drug for 8 wks. she was born and suffered from severe asthma.. we did over 60 admissions to the hospital as a child. and i am convinced it was the terbutaline that has caused her breathing problems... when i took the drug i was one of the earliest patients taking it. i also wore a tokos monitor to check for contractions.. i felt horrible while taking this drug. it interfered in every aspect of my daily life... please get all the information you can before taking it..

lcf says
November 16, 2009

I took terbutaline in 1992. I had preterm labor at 24 weeks gestation. I used the pump. My son was born at 31 weeks. He had a wonderful and normal childhood. He is 16 years old and has been recently diagnosed with Bipolar and general anxiety disorder. I am devastated. I do not know if my taking terbutaline has a connection with my son's illness.

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