Terbutaline

Brand names

• Brethaire
• Brethine
• Bricanyl
• Bricanyl Spacer

Usage

Terbutaline is used to dilate air passages in the lungs that have become narrowed as a result of disease or inflammation. It is used in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

How it works

Terbutaline widens constricted airways in the lungs by relaxing the smooth muscles that surround bronchial passages.

Side effects

Serious

Inhaled form: may become ineffective if used too often, resulting in more-severe breathing difficulty that does not improve. Signs include persistent wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath; confusion; bluish color to lips or fingernails; inability to speak. Ingested form: chest pain or heaviness; irregular, racing, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat; lightheadedness; fainting; severe weakness; severe headache.

Common

Insomnia, dry mouth, sore throat, anxiety, nervousness, restlessness.

Less common

Trembling, sweating, headache, nausea or vomiting, flushing or redness to cheeks or other skin surfaces, muscle aches, cramps, or twitching, unpleasant or unusual taste in the mouth.

Possible interactions

Other medicaments:

Terbutaline taken concurrently with:

• monoamine oxidase (MAO) type A inhibitors may cause excessive increase in blood pressure and undesirable heart stimulation.
• succinylcholine (Anectine) may lead to increased neuromuscular blockade which may require neostigmine.
• theophylline (Theo-Dur, others) may cause decreased theophylline effectiveness.

The following medicaments may decrease the effects of terbutaline:

• beta blockers-may impair terbutaline's effectiveness.

Herbal medicines or minerals:

Using St. John's wort, ma huang, ephedrine-like compounds or kola while taking this medicine may result in unacceptable central nervous system stimulation. Fir or pine needle oil should not be used by asthmatics. If you are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family (aster, chrysanthemum, daisy or ragweed), you may also be allergic to Echinacea, chamomile, feverfew and St. John's wort. Since part of the way ginseng works may be as an MAO inhibitor; do not combine ginseng with terbutaline.

Beverages:

Avoid excessive use of caffeine-containing beverages: coffee, tea, cola, chocolate.

Heavy exercise or exertion:

Use caution-excessive exercise can induce asthma in some patients.

Comments