Informational only — Not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider.

Community data Updated 2 months ago

Indications

Ritopar tablets are used to treat premature labour that has not developed complications.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Ritodrine hydrochloride is a β2-adrenergic agonist. It works by stimulating the β2-adrenergic receptors in the muscle of the uterus, which relaxes the muscle and reduces both the strength and frequency of uterine contractions. At the cellular level, it raises cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and increases cell-membrane cytokines that pull intracellular calcium into storage. Because contraction of the uterine muscle's contractile proteins depends on the availability of intracellular calcium, this drop in free calcium prevents the muscle from contracting, allowing the uterus to relax.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Ritodrine falls under pregnancy category B. Because there are no adequate, well-controlled studies of its effects before 20 weeks of gestation, it should not be given before the 20th week of pregnancy. Studies conducted from the 20th week onward have not shown an increased risk of fetal abnormalities. Even so, while clinical studies have not pointed to any lasting harm to the fetus, this possibility cannot be entirely ruled out, so the drug should be used only when clearly needed. Newborns are frequently reported to experience hypoglycemia and ileus, and low calcium levels and low blood pressure have been noted in infants whose mothers received other beta-mimetic agents during pregnancy. It should therefore be used with caution, and only when the expected benefit to the mother is judged to outweigh any possible risk to the infant.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: By intravenous infusion: initially 50 mcg/minute, increased gradually according to response by 50 mcg/minute every 10 minutes until contractions stop or maternal heart rate reaches 140 beats/minute; continued for 12 to 48 hours after contractions cease (usual rate 150 to 350 mcg/minute); maximum rate 350 mcg/minute. By intramuscular injection: 10 mg every 3 to 8 hours, continued for 12 to 48 hours after contractions have ceased; then switched to oral treatment. Oral maintenance treatment: one tablet (10 mg) may be given approximately 30 minutes before stopping intravenous therapy, repeated every 2 hours for 24 hours, followed by 10 to 20 mg every 4 to 6 hours; maximum oral dose 120 mg daily.

Side Effects & Interactions

Side Effects

No side-effect data recorded yet.