Updated 7/15/98
The following is a list of studies supporting the use of terbutaline for preterm labor. None of these studies used a control group, where some test subjects receive a placebo or no treatment. They either compare two tocolytics or reviewed retrospectively a group of women who were treated with a drug. Also included is the number of study participants and the rate of side effects, if provided. A * (star) denotes a study reviewed by the FDA in its decision to issue a warning on the terbutaline pump.
*Allbert, John R., et al., "Subcutaneous Tocolytic Infusion Therapy for Patients at Very High Risk for Preterm Labor," Journal of Perinatology, 1992, Vol. 12, p. 28-31. (992 subjects, maternal side effects not discussed, pump distributor (Tokos) involved in study.)
*Allbert, John R., et al., "Tocolysis for Recurrent Preterm Labor Using a Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion Pump," Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 1994, Vol. 39, pp. 614-618. (64 subjects, maternal side effects not discussed.)
*Caritis, Steve, et al., "A Comparison of Terbutaline and Ethanol in the Treatment of Preterm Labor," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1982, Vol. 142, pp. 183-190. . (85 subjects, 8% reported side effects, none considered "serious.")
*Fischer, Janet R., and Kaatz, Brian L., "Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion of Terbutaline for Suppression of Preterm Labor," Clinical Pharmacy, 1991, Vol. 10, pp. 292-296. (19 subjects, 16% reported serious complications)
Haspedis Lynne and Wolf, David, "Terbutaline in the Treatment of Preterm Labor: A Comparison of Intravenous and Subcutaneous Administration," Journal of AOA, 1988, Vol. 88, pp 489-493. (70 subjects, 41% experienced side effects, 1 percent discontinued because of side effects).
*Ingemarsson, Ingemar, and Bengtsson, Bengt, "A Five-Year Experience with Terbutaline for Preterm Labor: Low Rate of Severe Side Effects," Obstetrical Gynecology, Vol. 66, pp. 176-180. (330 subjects, 2.7% incidence of severe side effects)
*Kosasa, Thomas S., et al., "Ritodrine and Terbutaline Compared for the Treatment of Preterm Labor," Acta Obstetrical Gynecology Scandinavia, 1985, Vol. 64, pp. 421-426. (99 subjects, 8% taking terbutaline discontinued because of side effects, 2% taking ritodrine discontinued because of side effects.)
*Lam, Fung, et al., "Use of Subcutaneous Terbutaline Pump for Long-Term Tocolysis," Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1988, Vol. 72, pp. 810-813. (9 subjects, no maternal side effects reported.)
*Perry, Kenneth G., et al., "Incidence of Adverse Cardiopulmonary Effects with Low-Dose Continuous Terbutaline Infusion," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1995, Vol. 173, pp. 1273-1277. (8,709 subjects, 0.54% incidence of severe complications, used Tokos (pump distributor) database and records.)
*Spatling, Ludwig, "Bolus Tocolysis: Treatment of Preterm Labor with Pulsatile Administration of a Beta-Adrenergic Agonist," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1989, Vol. 160, pp. 713-717. (77 subjects; 3% discontinued because of severe side effects.)
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