Premature labour (after 20th week), prevention of premature labour after gynecological operations; acute fetal distress during labour if caused by hypermotility of the uterus or compression of the umbilical cord.

Ritodrine is used for the inhibition of premature labor. Ritodrine is most likely to be successful in patients with intact amniotic membranes and when therapy is initiated as soon as the diagnosis of preterm labor is established.

Bioavailability: PO - 30%; Protein binding: 32% to 38%; Renal excretion: 71% to 93%; Elimination Half-life: 60-156min; Hemodialysis or Peritoneal Dialyzable: Yes

Patients with heavy blood loss per vaginam, maternal cardiac disease, chorioamnionitis.

B

Infant risk cannot be ruled out.

Ritodrine administration has resulted in fetal and maternal tachycardia, plus increased blood pressure, lethargy, sleepiness, ketoacidosis, pulmonary edema, and erythema.

Oral maintenance: 40mg may be given 30-60 minutes before termination of IV therapy, the usual dosage 40mg slow release capsule 3 times a day. Ritodrine oral therapy may be started by administering the dose 30 minutes before discontinuing the intravenous infusion.For the first 24 hours of oral administration the usual dose is 10 milligrams ritodrine every 2 hours. Thereafter, the usual maintenance dose is 10 to 20 milligrams every 4 to 6 hours. The total daily oral dose of ritodrine should not exceed 120 milligrams. A sustained-release 40 milligram oral tablet used 3 times daily following standard intravenous therapy was subjectively well tolerated by patients