Key result
Adding verapamil to ritodrine reduces maternal tachycardia and hypotension without altering pregnancy prolongation.
Why the study?
Beta-sympathomimetic drugs used in preterm labor cause dose-dependent cardiovascular side effects that need to be mitigated.
Does the addition of verapamil reduce maternal tachycardia and hypotension in pregnant women treated with ritodrine for preterm labor?
Does the addition of verapamil reduce maternal tachycardia and hypotension in pregnant women treated with ritodrine for preterm labor?
The addition of verapamil to high-dose ritodrine infusion in preterm labor reduces maternal cardiovascular side effects without compromising uterine relaxation.
May improve maternal tolerability of ritodrine tocolysis; leaves open neonatal effects in randomized trials.
Side effects of beta-sympathomimetic drugs are of primary interest in the treatment of preterm labor. Incidence of side effects are dose-dependent, as is the efficacy of the beta-agonist in uterine relaxation. the effect of verapamil (Ca2+) inhibitor with antiarrhythmic action) on ritodrine does not modify the value of ritodrine in prolonging pregnancy, but clearly diminishes the incidence of maternal tachycardia and hypotension. The authors suggest that in the treatment of preterm labor with ritodrine infusion above 200 micrograms/min, the addition of verapamil (dosage, 80-120 micrograms/min) is useful because it substantially reduces the cardiovascular side effects associated with ritodrine hydrochloride.
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Rodríguez‐Escudero et al. (1981) studied Preterm labor. Verapamil vs. Ritodrine alone was evaluated on Maternal tachycardia and hypotension. The addition of verapamil to ritodrine infusion for preterm labor substantially reduces maternal tachycardia and hypotension without modifying pregnancy prolongation.
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