Re: Inhalers? med info-Terbutaline

[Guest guest]

2. What side effects can I expect from terbutaline?

The most common side effects are:

* jitteriness

* increased heart rate

* tremors

Most of the other side effects are less common. If you experience any of these

symptoms,

you should contact your doctor promptly. If your doctor does not respond to your

reports

of adverse side effects, consider seeking a second opinion. Also, because of the

risks of

terbutaline, you should be screened carefully for any pre-existing health

conditions.

Mild adverse effects

* Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, restlessness, insomnia (infrequent)

* Rapid, pounding heartbeat; increased sweating; muscle cramps in arms and legs

(infrequent to frequent)

* Nausea, heartburn, vomiting (rare with oral form, frequent with IV)

* Increased blood sugar (frequent- 40% abnormal one-hour glucose test)

Serious adverse effects

* Rapid or irregular heart rhythm, intensification of angina, increased blood

pressure

(infrequent)

* Lowered blood calcium or potassium (especially with intravenous use)

(possible)

* Liver toxicity (case reports)

* Severe lowering of blood pressure (hypotension) (case reports)

* Increased blood sugar (infrequent)

* Seizures (rare reports)

Effects of overdosage

* Nervousness, palpitation, rapid heart rate, sweating, headache, tremor,

vomiting,

chest pain

Sources: Rybacki, , and Long, , The Essential Guide to Prescription

Drugs, New

York: 1998, pp. 915-916.

1999 Physicians' Desk Reference, 52nd Ed., Montvale, NJ, pp. 1306-1307.

Terbutaline's side effects are more severe at higher dosages. As a reference

point, the

maximum dose of oral terbutaline for asthmatics is 15 mg per 24-hour period (The

Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs, 1998 and 1999 Physicians' Desk

Reference).

Some of terbutaline's more serious side effects include cardiovascular

complications.

These symptoms include:

* Dizziness or blackout

* Heart palpitations

* Tachycardia (rapid heart rate)*

* Irregular heart rate

* Frequent skipping of a heartbeat

* Chest pain

* Shortness of breath

* Severe anxiety or restlessness

Source : Adapted from article by B. Newman, M.D. Director, Maternal-Fetal

Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, on the Triplet Connection Web

Page.

*Tachycardia is defined as having a heart rate greater than 100 beats per

minute. Different

doctors have different definitions of unacceptably high tachycardia rates.