For treatment of postpartum bleeding

Ergonovine increases the strength, duration, and frequency of uterine contractions and decreases uterine bleeding. It is thought to produce smooth muscle contraction through mixed agonist-antagonist activity at alpha-adrenergic, dopaminergic, and tryptaminergic receptors.

Peripheral vascular disease, pregnancy

Probably safe; ergonovine supress breast milk secretion. For shor-t term use, breast- feeding is acceptable.

Nausea, vomiting, hypertension, artherosclerosis, cramping, palpitation, dyspnea, thrombophlebitis; Raynaund's or Ruerger's syndrome.

0.2-0.4mg PO BID-QID for 2 days postpartum, but longer if necessary. IM or IV slowly injection, 0.2mg repeated in 2-4 hours if necessary, up to 5 doses.