Therapeutic Action
Uterine relaxant
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Drug reference
Uterine relaxant
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Threatened premature labour (preferably use nifedipine for this indication)
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Do not administer to patients with pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, uterine haemorrhage, intra-uterine infection, intra-uterine foetal death, placenta praevia, placental abruption, rupture of membranes, multiple pregnancy, severe cardiopathy. Administer with caution to patients with diabetes, hyperthyroidism. Do not combine with nifedipine. May cause: pulmonary oedema, myocardial ischemia, foetal and maternal tachycardia, hypotension, tremor, headache, hypokalaemia, hyperglycaemia. Monitor maternal pulse regularly. Reduce the infusion rate in the event of maternal tachycardia (> 120/minute). Pregnancy: no contra-indication Breast-feeding: avoid
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0.5 mg in 1 ml ampoule (0.5 mg/ml) for IV infusion
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Dilute 5 mg (10 ampoules of 0.5 mg) in 500 ml of 5% glucose or 0.9% sodium chloride to obtain a solution of 10 micrograms/ml. Start infusion at the rate of 15 to 20 micrograms/minute (30 to 40 drops/minute). If contractions persist, increase the rate by 10 to 20 drops/minute every 30 minutes until uterine contractions cease. Do not exceed 45 micrograms/minute (90 drops/minute). Continue for one hour after contractions have ceased, then reduce the rate by half every 6 hours.
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48 hours maximum
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Use salbutamol within 24 hours of mixing with infusion fluid. Do not mix with other drugs in the same infusion fluid. Also comes in 5 ml ampoule containing 0.25 mg (0.05 mg/ml).
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– Below 25 °C
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