Anyone taken terbutaline (Brethine)?

[egoldber]

I've been having some pre-term contractions and I'm on terbutaline (a brand name is Brethine) to try and control them (as well as modified bedrest...notice more posts from me lately LOL???).

Anyway, about an hour after I take the terbutaline I get shaky and it lasts for about 3 hours. This is a known side effect of terbutaline, so I'm not horribly worried, but I'm wondering if anyone knows of a way to minimize this? I thought it was occuring if I took it on an empty stomach, but the last few doses I've noticed it doesn't matter if I've eaten or not, I still get shaky. Is this something I just have to learn to deal with?

The OB tried Procardia first, but that made me dizzy and made my heart race, so we switched to the terb.

[rrosen]

Beth,
I have no experience but, I really wanted to offer you a hug. I'm sure these last few weeks are really stressful for you.

I hope the ctx resolve and that all goes smoothly for you.

You will be in my thoughts.
Hugs,
Becca

[megs4413]

no BTDT advice, but big hugs! the doc said if we make it into the twenties (in weeks pg) that we will start talking about using terb for me...

I hope things go better!

[Lynnie]

Do you take the tablets, or take it intravenously (sp)??

I had it given intravenously with a little pump thingy, and I never noticed feeling shaky. It seems like it would be stronger that way, though, than the tablets, so I don't know if switching would help. I did like that I was getting a controlled doseage automatically, and then if I needed more, I could just hit the button on my little pump thing. Of course "shooting up" every couple days was not much fun.

Sorry I'm not more help. Hope you get everything under control.

Oh, and fwiw, I was on the terbutaline pump, a monitor, and bedrest from early feb until early april, when DS2 was born at 36.5 weeks, so it seemed to have helped me.

[cbm]

I took it for a brief period for the same reason.
Same side effects. They seemed to be more severe with the injection at the hospital than with the pills I took at home.
As far as I know there is no way to minimize it, I surely didn't find it. It seemed though that after a while the shaky effect wouldn't last as long as at first. Needless to say, I didn't care for it, but I only took it for about a week.
Thinking of you.

Claudia
DS 12/18/04

[crAbbymom]

With my second pregnancy, I was on the terb pills for about 6 weeks(I think, but maybe longer) Unfortunately, the racing heart, shakiness really doesn't go away. I think I got used to it after a while, but it generally made me feel like I had been startled awake non-stop. Believe it or not, you actually get used to the feeling! The meds and bedrest did the trick and I delivered at 35 weeks, so hang in there!

I really hope things go well for you and you have a healthy delivery.

[Lovingliv]

Just a thought Beth....what are you eating before? No experience with terbutaline....but maybe you are not eating the right combination of food?

Make sure you are eating enough carbs to avoid the shakes in general. I notice just in pregnancy that I become shakier much quicker than non-pregnant!

[Lovingliv]

Just wanted to add, I will be thinking of you!!!!

[JulieL]

I was on terb for 8 weeks. It takes some time for your body to adjust but from what I understand *most* women do adjust to it. I had it by shot a few times, but that wasn't enough in dosage, nor continuous enough so I got a pump, and it was administered via cathe in my leg. I took procardia as well, and nefedepine (which made gave me headaches for a the first couple of days) and indomethicine (?sp)

The terb was like several shots of coffee at first but eventually it didn't bother me anymore. I really didn't figure out a way to minimize it, and I'm not sure if you can. But like I said most women get use to it after a period of time.

How else are things going? Have you had an FFn yet? My Dr had me get an vag u/s every other week, and the inbetween weeks get and FFn. I hated the FFn but it was nice to have that extra reasurrance that I had another 2 weeks that the baby should be staying put.

Honestly as much as terb and the other drugs suck, it's better than mag or an early baby in the NICU. Hang in there, pm me if you have any questions or need some support. It was the longest 8 weeks of my life, but I and Miriam made it.

also check out www.sidelines.com too, but I'm sure you already know about them :)

GL, and tell that girl to hang in there!

************************************************** ******************
Oh, and fwiw, I was on the terbutaline pump, a monitor, and bedrest from early feb until early april, when DS2 was born at 36.5 weeks, so it seemed to have helped me.

Ditto to this. My Dr and specialist wasn't sure if these drugs were doing the trick as I still contracted like crazy on them. Well at 36 weeks I went off everything, and was in true labor 24 hours later, Miriam was born via c-section at 36wks 1day. I too feel like it helped, no matter now bad they made me feel or how frustrating it was to take several medicines a day, and had to switch the dosages and meds every other day, the fact our baby stayed put was worth it all, every last frustrating moment.

eta 2 :) also I used Matria nursing 24 hours system with an at home monitor that I used 2x's a day or when i was contracting to much. This was a great service, the nurses where GREAT (you contacted via phone any time of day) and worked well my my dr and the office, and my insurance covered it all!

[newmomto3kids]

I took it with my first pregnancy from 32 weeks until I couldn't stand the side effects any longer...about 35 weeks. I still had contractions and was dilating, but had to be induced at 39 weeks. I had the shakiness and horrible dreams. I know they were doing the best thing for the baby, but I hated that medicine.
Good luck to you, you don't have too much longer now. I hope you are feeling better soon.

[egoldber]

You know, its an odd thing. I am not dilating or effacing at all. That's not really the concern. In a "typical" pregnancy, I wouldn't be getting all this intervention. But because of my previous rupture, they don't want my uterus contracting at all. So the OB and peri are doing what they can to balance my risk of having ANY contractions vs taking the baby earlier than we already plan to.

If this keeps up, I will ask about a pump to see if that could help to reduce the shaky feeling.

And to the PP who asked about carbs, LOL, well have NO fear, plenty of carbs going on here. Did I mention I'm a stress eater and I loooovee me my carbs? :) But on a serious note, I try to eat carbs and protein at every meal.

[JulieL]

I wasn't dialated or effacing either, the only thing keeping me off mag. They told me if I did either I would be on mag treatment. But for me I was like a freak of nature and contracted upwards to 10 hours a day WITH all these drugs. It was frightening to see my body basically trying to get the baby out constantly. The Matria nurses actually freaked out because of how many contractions regularly would registar on the monitor 13-36 an hour when contracting. I'm convinced not on the meds I would have dialated and gone into labor, but something like only 30% of those with an irritable uterus actually go into preterm labor. I just happened to be that 30% The specialist own wife when through her pregnancy with an irritable utuerus, went late, and ironically had to be induced because her labor would progress. He said this often happens to ladies with an irritable uterus, causing much emotional distress. I did not have a previous rupture, but they were getting somewhat but not overly concerned that I had had a previous c-section. I actually had gone back and forth about a c/s vs VBAC before my bedrest and this issue took that option away from me.

The pump isn't a big deal, though you cathe yourself by pushing a aprx 1" needle into your leg that inserts the cathe. I did that every 3 days I think. I had to get over being scared of doing it. The first time I almost passed out, after that I got it together and told myself this was necessary and for my baby, and became a pro at doing it, and really it doesn't hurt much.

You know water based fruits/veggies would be good too to keep your body as dehyrated as possible.

I'm glad otherwise all is well. I'm pulling for the both of you!

[alkagift]

Beth,
I had some Brethene injections and (I think) pills. I had the same reaction that you did, but for me (and perhaps it's because I never had the pump) my body did not "adjust" to it. I started contracting at 28 weeks and I was kept in the hospital overnight twice for observation--like you, never dilated or effaced.

I'm so sorry you have to deal with the Brethene, it definitely makes you feel like crapola. Hang in there, baby yourself and drink lots of water.

Allison
Mommy to Matthew Clayton, 5/03

[TaChapm]

Beth
I am so sorry you are going through this. It is terrible to deal with the preterm labor and bedrest. I felt terrible on the terbutaline. I was really shaky the entire time I took it and nothing seemed to help. I just had to deal with it.

Hang in there! I thought it would never end but now I can barely remember what all I went through to get Jaci here safe. I hope little miss hangs in there a little longer!

Tara
Mommy to Jackson 11-10-02
Tyler 6-9-05
& Baby Jaci 8-10-06


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[ribbit1019]

Super huge hugs Beth! You sould so stressed, and I don't blame you one bit!

I hope you can gain some insight from here:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/13454_13467.asp
Maybe there is something on the list your Dr. hasn't tried yet that might not have as severe side effects in you.

Christy
My Waterbabies
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[Lynnie]

I had matria too.

I had to fight the insurance company like heck to get it covered, but I am very glad I did.

It may be worth asking your doc about.

I wonder why I never felt shaky ?? I used to get alot of extra doses of the stuff.

Hope yours goes away.

[jk3]

I was on Terbutaline for one day - that's all I could tolerate. Since my preterm contractions were not causing cervical changes and my FFN test came back negative my OB said that the drug was optional. I would never have made it through bedrest on that drug. Have you had a FFN test?

Thinking of you, Beth. Hope everything goes smoothly.

Jenn
DS 6/03

[egoldber]

No, I haven't had an fFN. Just to clarify, the concern with me is not pre-term labor. The concern is that any contractions might cause my uterus to rupture again. They are "just" trying to control the contractions and don't really think I'm in any danger of pre-term labor.