Question

List some of the common *tocolytics*; when should these be administered?

Answer 1

Tocolytics are medications used to delay or inhibit premature labor. Common tocolytics include beta-adrenergic agonists, magnesium sulfate, calcium channel blockers, and prostaglandin synthase inhibitors. They should be administered when a woman is in preterm labor and there is a need to delay delivery.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tocolytics are medications used to delay or inhibit premature labor. Some common tocolytics include:

1. Beta-adrenergic agonists: Drugs like terbutaline and ritodrine that relax the uterine muscles and delay contractions.
2. Magnesium sulfate: This medication reduces uterine contractions by blocking calcium entry into uterine cells.
3. Calcium channel blockers: Medications like nifedipine that prevent calcium from entering the uterine muscles, thereby reducing contractions.
4. Prostaglandin synthase inhibitors: Drugs like indomethacin that inhibit the production of prostaglandins, which induce contractions.

Tocolytics should be administered when a woman is in preterm labor (between 20 to 34 weeks of gestation) and there is a need to delay delivery. They are used to buy time for administering corticosteroids to enhance fetal lung maturity and ensure better outcomes for the baby.