Women Urged to Avoid Terbutaline in Pregnancy

Washington, DCWhile taking medication during pregnancy has been a hot-button topic for years, it has recently come to light that the use of Terbutaline in pregnancy can have significant consequences for women.

According to a recent article on the Web site for Mother Nature Network, terbutaline, an asthma medication, has recently raised concerns for women taking the medication during their pregnancy.

The news source reports that the US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that the drug should not be used by pregnant women because of the potential for maternal heart problems or even death.

Such a warning is significant, particularly as the Wall Street Journal recently reported that approximately 64 percent of women use at least one prescription drug during pregnancy. Additionally, the news source said that on average, pregnant women use between three and five medications.

Terbutaline, which is occasionally used off-label as an attempt to prevent preterm labor, can cause a number of less serious side effects including nervousness, dizziness, throat irritation and irregular heartbeat, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.