Any one familier withTerbutaline sulfate(Brethine?)

My doctor told me to take a pill every morning and evening. He told me he is giving this to me to NOT to go in early labor. But the instructions say it is for breathing. Iam confused.
Thanks.

 

I am also on the Terbutaline pills. Most meds are used for many different things. You can treat differrent problems with the same meds. I'm on Terb. b/c I keep having contractions, so I'm using it to stop my contractions. I have to take them about 4 or 5 time a day for my contractions. You'll be ok, just take your meds.

 

I think terbutaline is an asthma drug, but it is given to prevent pre-term labor as an "off label" use. I have been given it three times by injection during this pregnancy to stop contractions. My dr also gave me a prescription for the pills to take at home if I needed to.

 

I took them in pill form at home, as needed in the beginning, and then regularly towards the end. While on hospital bedrest, I got them as a shot, as needed.

Have you started taking them yet? Why did your doctor prescribe them? It is my understanding that most docs are a little more hesitant to use this drug unless it is absolutely necessary (most will start with nefedipine/Procardia). The side effects can be a little rough in the beginning, but they will ease up with time. You will feel like your heart is racing and you may get the shakes.

 

My doctor started with terb (not procardia). I had some regular contractions around 29 weeks and went to the ER, and I got 2 shots of it (which, as the doctor predicted, made me feel as if I'd drunk about a quart of coffee, only without the having to pee part). That stopped the contrax, then I got sent home with pills to take every 4 hours around the clock, to keep them from coming back. I did continue to have contrax off and on, but they were never that regular again.

The side effects from the terb wore off after about a week -- the first 2 days were the worst. I had a mild headache, my heartbeat was around 90-100 (my doctor had me take my pulse twice a day to make sure it didn't go too high), and my hands shook -- not enough to prevent me from doing anthing, just enough to be annoying.