Uterine and cardiovascular effects of beta2-selective sympathomimetic drugs administered as an intravenous infusion.

The uterine and cardiovascular effects of fenoterol, hexoprenaline, ritodrine and salbutamol, given as intravenous infusions in equivalent and therapeutic dosages in oxytocin-induced labour, were studied and compared. All the drugs were effective in reducing the uterine activity to less than 30% of the original. The effect on the cardiovascular system was to produce a moderate tachycardia and a widening of the pulse pressure by raising the systolic and decreasing the diastolic blood pressures.