Terbutaline is a drug often given to pregnant mothers to delay delivery.

When it is given during the gestation period, it can cause certain transmitters in the brain to become over stimulated. This excessive stimulation can result in a condition called nueroinflammation, which can be very damaging to the brains’ development.

The neuroinflammation can be enough to scare a family but what if terbutaline made your child more susceptible to environmental pollutants so that simple raw foods like fruits and veggies from the grocery store made them ill?

Researchers found that Terbutaline may contribute to autism spectrum disorder by making the brain abnormally venerable to environmental pollutants and pesticides.

While the actual cause of autism is unknown, many researchers believe the environment’s negative factors contribute immensely.

Educating yourself on the risks and benefits of terbutaline or any other substance can change the outcome of your child health.

He’s 16 years old, tall, slim and handsome. A year ago he started running, and now he runs a mile in 6 minutes 30 seconds, competes in races all over the state, has won trophies and awards and in a recent race finished 90^th out of 1,183 runners. His name is Alex and he has autism.

Alex and his twin brother Jamie, who also has autism and runs an 8:30 mile, run in competitive mainstream races throughout the state. They are able to do this with the help and dedication of an amateure, where experienced runners volunteer their time providing one-to-one support to special needs kids in races all over the country.

When they first started, their coaches held their hands while running with them, not sure what to expect as both Alex and Jamie have limited language and self-injurious behavior that can oftentimes be unpredictable. REgardless, it wasn’t long before the coaches were able to let go and run with them side by side.

This simply shows that even kids with special needs can compete and even need to compete.

I’ve been researching terbutaline, when giving off-label to slow pre-term labor, and the possibilities of proving it causes autism in the child. The information I continue to find amazes me! Even though the FDA placed a warning against such use, many medical practices continue to use this drug. Even more amazing is the lack of research proving this medication helps with preterm labor.

There is considerable disagreement in the medical community about the use of terbutaline as a preterm labor drug. Some doctors believe it is an effective treatment for preterm labor. However, other doctors have concerns about whether it is safe and whether it works and either do not prescribe it or prescribe it only for short periods of time.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (“ACOG”) warns against the use of terbutaline to prevent preterm labor, when they stated in a Technical Bulletin to it’s members that “no studies have convincingly demonstrated an improvement in survival or any index of long-term neonatal outcome with the use of tocolytic (Terbutaline) therapy. On the other hand, the potential damages of tocolytic therapy to the mother and the neonate are well documented.”

How can prescribing this medication be allowed when studies are not conclusive and lack to exist? Better yet, how are doctors given the right to prescribe a drug that has been marketed for asthma without scientific analysis proven? We put our trust in the FDA and fail to question the doctors when in reality we must learn to educate ourselves to protect ourselves.

The definition which was once based upon immigration and the hopes for a new beginning, is now simply having a healthy family with full bellies and a roof over their heads. This dream can be changed within seconds of a wrong decision but what if that decision isn’t made by you? What if the decision of a physician changes your American dream? What if your trust and confidence lies within a doctor and they fail you as a human being by prescribing a medication that causes autism in your unborn child?

Who’s to blame? Where do you start to receive justification for a mistake you didn’t make? This happens on a regular basis but proving your physician’s mistake can feel like a never ending circle of denial and mishaps.

One new study shows the prescribing of terbutaline, an off-label drug used to prevent pre-term labor, may cause autism in the unborn child. Proving this concept is difficult but if sets of fraternal twins diagnosed within the autism spectrum come forward the chances are within reach.

Fraternal twins are two eggs fertilized at the same time from different genetic make-ups. They are no more alike than any other siblings. Therefore, if fraternal twins are both diagnosed within the autism spectrum after the mother was placed on terbutaline this may prove the drug caused the disorder.

Until parents of fraternal twins come forward, doctors will continue to neglect the truth and cause families to lose hope in the American dream. Blame needs to be placed and justice is a must to stop this negligence.

Certain uses could lead to maternal heart problems and death

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning that terbutaline administered by injection or through an infusion pump should not be used in pregnant women for prevention or prolonged (beyond 48-72 hours) treatment of preterm labor due to the potential for serious maternal heart problems and death. In addition, oral terbutaline tablets should not be used for prevention or treatment of preterm labor. The FDA is requiring the addition of a Boxed Warning and Contraindication to the drug prescribing information (labeling) to warn against these uses.

Terbutaline is FDA-approved to prevent and treat narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm) associated with asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. The drug is used off-label for obstetric purposes, including treating preterm labor and treating uterine hyperstimulation. Terbutaline has also been used in an attempt to prevent recurrent preterm labor. There is no evidence, however, that use of terbutaline to prevent preterm labor improves infant outcomes. Serious adverse events, including maternal deaths, have been reported with such use in pregnant patients.

“Women should be aware that serious and sometimes fatal side effects have been reported after prolonged use of terbutaline in pregnant women,” said Scott Monroe, M.D., director of FDA’s Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products. “It is important for patients and health care professionals to consider all the potential risks and known benefits of any drug before deciding on its use.”

The FDA is aware that administration of terbutaline by injection to pregnant women is used in hospital settings in certain urgent situations. The FDA warning relates to safety concerns about the prolonged use of terbutaline injection beyond 48-72 hours, and against any use of oral terbutaline in pregnant women for prevention or treatment of preterm labor.

The decision to require a Boxed Warning and Contraindication is based on the FDA’s review of post-market safety reports of heart problems and even death associated with terbutaline use for obstetric indications, as well as data from medical literature documenting the lack of safety and effectiveness of terbutaline for preventing preterm labor, and animal data suggesting potential risks. Based on this information, the FDA concluded that the risk of serious adverse events outweighs any potential benefit to pregnant patients for either prolonged use of terbutaline injection beyond 48-72 hours or use of oral terbutaline for prevention or treatment of preterm labor.

These changes to the drug labeling are consistent with statements from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists discouraging use of terbutaline for preventing preterm labor.

There are multiple generic versions of terbutaline oral tablets and injectable formulations available. The brand name products were previously discontinued by the companies that made them.

The FDA encourages patients to talk to their health care professional if they have concerns about any treatment they are receiving. Patients and health care professionals should report any side effects from the use of terbutaline to the FDA’s MedWatch adverse event reporting program at www.fda.gov/MedWatch¹.

For more information:

• Drug Safety Communication: Use of Terbutaline for Preterm Labor
  ²
• FDA Citizen Petition Response: Terbutaline Sulfate, Docket No. FDA-2008-P-0358

Terbutaline is a prescription medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating asthma related symptoms. It works by relaxing muscles, which can stop an asthma attack.

Despite the fact that the drug is only approved for treating asthma, many obstetricians have used Terbutaline to try to prevent premature labor or to control contractions during birth. The “off-label” use of the drug has lead to serious disabilities. The serious risks involved in the use of Terbutaline by expectant mothers have been known since 1997.

Researchers have shown that Terbutaline can affect the placenta of a pregnant woman and cause serious birth defects, namely autism. The risks of Terbutaline become even greater in the case of twins.

The risks of Terbutaline during pregnancy are well known. If an obstetrician prescribes Terbutaline to a pregnant woman, they may be liable for the birth defects. Terbutaline attorneys are working on cases in which serious birth defects have resulted from medical negligence.