Threatened premature labour (preferably use nifedipine for this indication)
Forms and strengths, route of administration
0.5 mg in 1 ml ampoule(0.5 mg/ml) for IV infusion
Dosage
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.
Duration
48 hours maximum
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
Do not administer to patients with pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, uterine haemorrhage, intra-uterine infection, intra-uterine foetal death, placentapraevia, placental abruption, rupture of membranes, multiple pregnancy, severe cardiopathy.
Administer with caution to patients with diabetes, hyperthyroidism.
Do not combine with nifedipine.
May cause: pulmonaryoedema, 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
Remarks
Use salbutamol within 24 hours of mixing with infusion fluid. Do not mix with other drugs in the same infusionfluid.
Also comes in 5 ml ampoule containing 0.25 mg (0.05mg/ml).