Tocolytic medication

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Tocolytic medication

Tocolytics are medications that are used to slow or stop the contractions of a woman's uterus during pregnancy. They are typically given to women who is in preterm labor in an attempt to delay birth for 1 to 2 days.

This delay may be needed for a variety of medical reasons, such as:

To allow time for a fetus's lungs to mature after corticosteroid treatment.
To prevent labor until specialized care is obtained that either the mother or fetus is expected to need.
To relax the mother's uterine muscles before trying to turn a breech fetus to the head-down position (external cephalic version).
To decrease the stress on a baby who has a low heart rate or other problem.

Examples of tocolytics include ritodrine, terbutaline, magnesium sulfate, nifedipine, and indomethacin.

Credits

Author	Jeannette Curtis
Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Last Updated	May 25, 2007

Last updated:	May 25, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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