title: A five-year experience with terbutaline for preterm labor: low rate of severe side effects.
abstract: The medical records of 330 patients treated with terbutaline infusion for the inhibition of preterm labor were reviewed over a five-year period. In patients with intact membranes the results were uniformly good, particularly when treatment was instituted before the 30th week. Half these patients had a prolonged labor of six weeks or more; in most cases of treatment failure complications already existed on admission. In only nine patients (2.7%) terbutaline treatment was stopped due to side effects: predominantly maternal tachycardia or vomiting. Two patients had chest symptoms, but in no case was pulmonary edema diagnosed. The results suggested that a low incidence of severe side effects can be obtained if the following precautions are taken: glucose is used as the infusion medium, instead of sodium chloride; concentrated solutions are given to avoid fluid overload; the patients are carefully controlled; and the infusion is immediately reduced or stopped if signs of severe side effects appear.
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000188:drug therapy; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D013726:Terbutaline