• Brand Names: Canada: Bricanyl®
• Pharmacologic Category: Beta2-Adrenergic Agonist

• It is used to open the airways in lung diseases where spasm may cause breathing problems.
• Shot:
• It delays a baby's birth when it is too early.
• Terbutaline works in the airways to calm the muscles and help the flow of oxygen.
• It works to lower the number of times the uterus contracts.

How to take

• Oral:
• Take tablet on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
• Shot:
• It is given as a shot into the fatty part of the skin.
• It is given as an infusion into the fatty part of the skin over a period of time.

Missed Dose

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
• Do not change the dose or stop this drug. Talk with the doctor.

Storage

• Store tablets at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Protect tablets from water. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• Store shot as you have been told by the doctor.
• Shot:
• This drug will be given to you in a hospital or doctor's office. You will not store it at home.

Warnings

• Unsafe side effects may happen. This drug cannot be taken while you are taking some other drugs. Check all the drugs you are taking with your doctor.

Avoid

• If you have an allergy to terbutaline or any other part of this drug.
• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs. Make sure to tell about the allergy and what signs you had. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you have a fast heartbeat.

Precautions

• Wear disease medical alert ID (identification).
• If you have heart disease, talk with your doctor.
• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), this drug may sometimes raise blood sugar. Talk with your doctor about how to fine tune this.
• If you have an overactive thyroid, talk with your doctor.
• If you have seizures, talk with your doctor.
• Have your blood work checked often. Talk with your doctor.
• Check all drugs you are taking with your doctor. This drug may not mix well with some other drugs.
• Limit your use of caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate. Use with this drug may cause nervousness, shakiness, and a fast heartbeat.
• If you are taking this drug for lung disease and get pregnant, tell your doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Side Effects

• All products:
• Nervous and excitable.
• Headache.
• Upset stomach or throwing up. Many small meals, good mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Dry mouth. Good mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help. See a dentist often.
• Not able to sleep.
• Shot:
• Low blood pressure.
• Flushing. Wearing layers of clothes or summer clothes and staying in cool places may help.
• Low potassium levels. Signs include feeling tired, weak, numbness, or tingling; muscle cramps; hard stools (constipation); throwing up; or a fast heartbeat.
• High blood sugar may cause diabetes while on this drug. This most often goes back to normal when this drug is stopped.

Contact a healthcare provider

• If you think there was an overdose, call your local poison control center or ER right away.
• Signs of a very bad reaction to the drug. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• If you are not able to get the breathing attack under control. Get help right away.
• Peak flow measurement low.
• Chest pain or pressure or a fast heartbeat.
• Trouble breathing.
• Very nervous and excitable.
• Any rash.
• Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse.

General Statements

• If you have a very bad allergy, wear an allergy ID at all times.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most drugs may be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• In Canada, take any unused drugs to the pharmacy. Also, visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th to learn about the right way to get rid of unused drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Call your doctor for help with any side effects. If in the U.S., you may also call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or if in Canada, you may also call Health Canada's Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including OTC, natural products, or vitamins.

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