Short-term tocolytics for preterm delivery – current perspectives

Figures & data

Table 1 Commonly used tocolytic drug classes

Drug class	Individual drugs in the class commonly used or studied	Major side effects	Comments
Betamimetics^Citation18	Ritodrine, terbutaline, hexoprenaline, salbutamol	Cardiac arrhythmias (tachycardia), hypotension, hyperglycemia, pulmonary edema	Long-term use recently given an FDA “black box” warning
Calcium channel blockers^Citation19	Nifedipine, nicardipine	Maternal hypotension, dizziness	Initial loading dose common
Magnesium sulfate^Citation25	Magnesium sulfate	Flushing, respiratory suppression, cardiac arrest	Currently utilized for neuroprotection protocols
Oxytocin receptor blockers^Citation28	Atosiban, barusiban	Gastrointestinal upset	Not utilized in the USA
Prostaglandin inhibitors^Citation29	Indomethacin, sulindac, celecoxib	Maternal gastrointestinal disturbance, oligohydramnios, premature constriction of the ductus	Concern about ductal constriction limits use generally to <32 weeks’ gestation
Nitrates and others^Citation30	Nitroglycerin, nitric oxide	Headache, flushing, maternal hypotension, tachycardia	Currently limited to research trials

Abbreviation: FDA, US Food and Drug Administration.

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