Terbutaline: What Is It Used For?
Terbutaline is a bronchodilator that belongs to the group ‘beta-2 agonists’. For this reason, it is mainly intended for short-term treatments of asthma. However, it is also used by medical professionals to treat other diseases such as COPD (e.g. emphysema and chronic bronchitis).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends terbutaline for the treatment of children of all ages because it is available in liquid form for aerosol administration. Interestingly, this is a drug that may show a positive result in doping tests. It can also cause cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, and extra heartbeat.
We will look more about the side effects of this drug later in this article.
How does asthma break out?
It is important to know that asthma is the main disease for which terbutaline is prescribed. In this way, you can better understand the working method and main properties of the drug.
Asthma is an upper respiratory disease. It causes the bronchi to contract and become inflamed. This makes it difficult for the patient to breathe. It can cause wheezing, coughing or severe lack of oxygen.
The causes of this disease have not been clearly identified. Experts agree that both environmental and hereditary factors are likely to have an impact on the development of asthma. Exposure to certain factors can also worsen asthma. However, such triggers vary from person to person, as does the severity of symptoms.
The most common stimuli and triggers include:
- Pollen, dust mites and pet hair.
- Sports or physical activities.
- Cold weather.
- Stress and anxiety.
- Certain foods and medicines.
How does terbutaline work?
As mentioned above, terbutaline is a beta-2 agonist drug that produces negligible effects on alpha receptors. Activation of beta-2 receptors triggers, among other things, bronchodilation. Because the lungs contain a lot of these receptors, terbutaline causes possible bronchodilation, making it well-suited for the treatment of asthma attacks.
However, it is important to note that this drug can trigger resistance in a patient taking it. Experts have demonstrated in clinical trials that continuous use of beta-2 agonists for a period of 12 months or more may accelerate respiratory impairment in asthmatic patients.
It is also important to know that terbutaline affects the heart, as this organ also contains several beta-2 receptors. Thus, like all beta-2 agonist drugs, this drug is a heart stimulant. However, terbutaline is a drug prescribed by healthcare professionals specifically for the treatment of recurrent bronchial asthma attacks as well as acute bronchospasm.
Side effects of terbutaline
Like all medicines, terbutaline has side effects that should be taken into account when using it. Its misuse can have serious health consequences. Therefore, you should always follow the instructions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist and tell them about any discomfort you start taking this medicine.
Here are some of the most common side effects that beta-2 agonists, such as terbutaline, usually cause:
- Shaking
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Agitation
- Tachycardia and palpitations
- Muscle cramps
Sudden bronchoconstriction may also occur. If this occurs, the patient should, paradoxically, take another bronchodilator immediately.
Summary
Terbutaline is a widely used drug to treat asthma. The effectiveness of this bronchodilator drug is based on its ability to stimulate lung beta-2 receptors. Because these receptors are also found in other organs, terbutaline may trigger other side effects that the patient should be expected to take into account when starting treatment with this drug.
