Ritodrine Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Premature Labor

Initial dose: 50 to 100 mcg IV per minute, increased every ten minutes as needed in increments of 50 mcg to the effective dose that balances uterine response and unwanted effects (increased maternal heart rate and decreased blood pressure and increased fetal heart rate), or until the maternal heart rate reaches 130 beats per minute.
Maintenance dose: 150 to 350 mcg IV per minute at the lowest dose that maintains a relaxed uterus. If labor is irreversible or the maximum dose of 350 mcg per minute is reached and labor persists, ritodrine should be discontinued.

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Dose Adjustments

Tachycardia (maternal heart rate greater than 120 or fetal heart rate of greater than 170 to 180) and other side effects may be reduced by slowing the rate of infusion or decreasing the dose.

Precautions

Patients on long-term (2 to 3 weeks) intravenous ritodrine therapy should be monitored for the development of leukopenia or agranulocytosis.

Persistent high tachycardia (greater than 140 beats per minute) or shortness of breath may indicate the development of pulmonary edema. If pulmonary edema develops, ritodrine should be discontinued.

Patients should be placed in the left lateral position to minimize hypotension.

Fluids should be closely monitored to prevent circulatory fluid overload.

Heart rate, maternal and fetal, should be monitored during therapy. Maternal blood glucose should also be measured. After delivery, neonatal blood glucose should be measured.

Ritodrine may be readministered in cases of recurrence of unwanted preterm labor.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Injection must be diluted before use unless premixed solution is used. The use of saline diluents as the infusion solution should be avoided because of the risk of pulmonary edema.

Intravenous infusion should be continued for 12 to 48 hours after uterine contractions stop.

Ritodrine should be administered in a separate intravenous line.

For better dose titration, ritodrine should be administered by a controlled infusion device.

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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