Terbutaline

Terbutaline is used to prevent and treat wheezing, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties caused by asthma, chronic bronchitis, andemphysema. Terbutaline is in a class of medications called beta agonists. It works by relaxing and opening the airways, making it easier to breathe.

Terbutaline comes as a tablet to take by mouth. The tablets are usually taken three times a day, once every six hours. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take terbutaline exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Each dose of terbutaline should control your symptoms for at least 6 hours after you take it. If you find that your symptoms return before it is time for your next dose, that terbutaline does not control your symptoms as well as it did at the beginning of your treatment, or that your symptoms are getting worse, call your doctor. These may be signs that your condition is worsening. Terbutaline may control your symptoms but will not cure your condition. Continue to use terbutaline even if you feel well. Do not stop taking terbutaline without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Terbutaline may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
<li>
uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body</li>
<li>
nervousness</li>
<li>
dizziness</li>
<li>
drowsiness</li>
<li>
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep</li>
<li>
weakness</li>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
nausea</li>
<li>
sweating</li>
<li>
dry mouth</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
increased difficulty breathing</li>
<li>
tightening of the throat</li>
<li>
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat</li>
<li>
chest pain</li>
<li>
seizures</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].Terbutaline may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.</p>

Before taking terbutaline, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to terbutaline, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in terbutaline tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), carteolol (Cartrol), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor), nadolol (Corgard), propanolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), and timolol (Blocadren); certain diuretics ( 'water pills'); other medications for asthma; and medications for colds, appetite control, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Also tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications or if you have stopped taking them in the past 2 weeks: tricyclic antidepressants including amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, imipramine (Tofranil), maprotiline, nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an irregular heartbeat, heart disease, high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid gland, diabetes, or seizures. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking terbutaline.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

<ul>
<li>
chest pain</li>
<li>
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat</li>
<li>
dizziness or fainting</li>
<li>
nervousness</li>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body</li>
<li>
excessive tiredness</li>
<li>
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep</li>
<li>
weakness</li>
<li>
dry mouth</li>
<li>
seizures</li></ul>