RITODRINE (Systemic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.?

• Yutopar

In Canada?

• Yutopar
• Yutopar S.R.

Generic name product may be available in the U.S.

Category

• Tocolytic

Description

Ritodrine (RI-toe-dreen) is used to stop premature labor. It is availableonly with your doctor's prescription and is to be administered only by orunder the supervision of your doctor.

Ritodrine is available in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Extended-release capsules (Canada)
• Tablets (Canada)

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ritodrine, the followingshould be considered:

Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to ritodrine or sulfites. Also tell your health care professionalif you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,or dyes.

Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are takingor receiving ritodrine, it is especially important that your health care professionalknow if you are taking any of the following:

• Beta-adrenergic blocking agents (acebutolol [e.g., Sectral], atenolol[e.g., Tenormin], betaxolol [e.g., Kerlone], bisoprolol [e.g., Zebeta], carteolol[e.g., Cartrol], labetalol [e.g., Normodyne], metoprolol [e.g., Lopressor],nadolol [e.g., Corgard], oxprenolol [e.g., Trasicor], penbutolol [e.g., Levatol],pindolol [e.g., Visken], propranolol [e.g., Inderal], sotalol [e.g., Sotacor],timolol [e.g., Blocadren])?Ritodrine may be less effective if it isused with any of these medicines

• Corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicines)?These medicinesare often given together to the mother to help her baby's lungs develop. Ifyou are taking corticosteroids, your dose may need to be changed if ritodrineis also taken or injected. Sometimes the combination of these medicines increasesthe chance of side effects occurring in the mother.

• Medicine for asthma or breathing problems?Because these productshave some effects that are similar to those of ritodrine, the chance of sideeffects developing is increased when these medicines are used with ritodrine

Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of ritodrine. Make sure you tell your doctor ifyou have any other medical problems, especially:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus?Ritodrine may make thiscondition worse

• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• Overactive thyroid, uncontrolled?Use of ritodrine may causeserious effects of the heart, including irregular heartbeat

• High blood pressure (hypertension), uncontrolled, or
• Migraine headaches (or history of)?Ritodrine may make theseconditions worse. Rarely, use of ritodrine during a migraine headache maycause problems with blood circulation in the brain

Proper Use of This Medicine

Dosing?The dose of ritodrine will be different for different women. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on thelabel. The following information includes only the average doses ofritodrine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The injection form of thismedicine will be given to you by your health care professional.

• For oral dosage form (extended-releasecapsules):
  • Adults: In the first twenty-four hours after the doctor stops yourintravenous ritodrine, your dose may be as high as 40 milligrams (mg) everyeight hours. After that, the dose is usually 40 mg taken every eight to twelvehours. Your doctor may want you to take oral ritodrine up until it is timefor you to deliver your baby or until your 37th week of pregnancy.
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • Adults: In the first twenty-four hours after the doctor stops yourintravenous ritodrine, your dose may be as high as 10 mg every two hours.After that, the dose is usually 10 to 20 mg every four to six hours. Yourdoctor may want you to take oral ritodrine up until it is time for you todeliver your baby or until your 37th week of pregnancy.
• For injection dosage form:
  • Adults: 50 to 350 micrograms per minute, injected into a vein.

Missed dose?If you miss an oral dose of this medicine and rememberwithin an hour or so of the missed dose, take it right away. However, if youdo not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regulardosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage?To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in otherdamp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

Check with your doctor right away if your contractions beginagain or your water breaks.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussedwith your doctor. This especially includes over-the-counter (nonprescription)medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinusproblems since they may increase the unwanted effects of this medicine.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicinemay cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects mayoccur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Tell your health care professionalimmediately if either of the following side effects occurs while youare receiving this medicine:

More common

Chest pain or tightness; shortness ofbreath?rare with oral form

Check with your health care professional assoon as possible if the following side effects occur:

More common

Blurred vision; dizziness or lightheadedness; drowsiness; dry mouth; flushed and dry skin; fast or irregular heartbeat?rare with oral form; fruit-like breath odor; increased urination; loss of appetite; nausea; severe pounding or racing heartbeat?rare with oral form; sleepiness; stomachache; tiredness; troubled breathing(rapid and deep); unusual thirst; vomiting

Rare

Sore throat or fever; yellow eyes orskin

Symptoms of overdose

Fast or irregular heartbeat (severe); nausea or vomiting (severe); nervousness or trembling(severe); shortness of breath (severe)

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to themedicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effectscontinue or are bothersome:

More common

Headache; reddened skin; trembling

Less common or rare

Anxiety; emotional upset; jitteriness, nervousness, or restlessness; skin rash

After you stop using this medicine, your body may need timeto adjust. The length of time this takes depends on the amount of medicineyou were using and how long you used it. During this period of time checkwith your doctor if you notice the following side effect:

Shortness of breath

Other sideeffects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice anyother effects, check with your doctor.