What Doctors Don't Tell YouTerbutaline infusion normally reserved for treating asthma and bronchitis is being used on women in the US to help their pregnancies go to term. It has extended some high risk pregnancies by 30 days.
Unfortunately, the technique is also high risk one mother died as a result. The Food and Drug Administration, the US drug regulator, is already questioning its use, and campaigns have been mounted against it by one woman’s group.Typical side effects of terbutaline include irregular heart beat (cardiac arrhythmias), trembling and nervousness (JAMA 1998; 279: 902).
Maryon Stewart
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD