How Effective Is Terbutaline?
Women respond differently to terbutaline, so its effects and how long they last vary from woman to woman. When a woman has a good response, terbutaline reduces the number and frequency of contractions. And yet, like all tocolytic drugs, terbutaline has not been shown to consistently prevent or delay preterm delivery for a significant period of time. Even so, studies have shown that terbutaline can usually delay delivery for at least several days (depending on how much a woman’s cervix is dilated before beginning medication). This isn’t a lot of time, but it can make a big difference for the fetus if the mother is given steroids along with terbutaline. After 48 hours, steroids improve a baby’s lung function and reduce his or her risk of dying by 40%. For more information on steroid therapy, go to Treatment of Preterm Labor: Steroids & Antibiotics.
