Ray & Jill Paoli wrote:

>  As a 6mth pregnant mum I had many prem labour episodes (due
> to GA for mastectomy) and was eventually prescribed Ventolin (oral)
> and
> at the time, I assumed Ventolin had the effect of blocking oxytocin
> release, believing that Oxtocin was involved in the triggering of
> labour.
>  My uneducated assumption was supported when counselling a mum of a 4
> wk
> old who found her LDR was extremely slow and inhibited during times
> when
> her athsma was acute and Ventolin dosage increased.  Is this too
> simplified or just plain wrong?

According to Hale, Ventolin is a bronchodilator and isn't that a smooth
muscle relaxant?  I took terbutiline (same type of drug) for premature
labor and still had a premature and very quick delivery, as well as very
stong and sometimes quite painful milk-ejection reflexes, along with an
abundant milk supply (although, I was no longer on the meds).

I just checked the USPDI, "Drug Information for the Health Care
Professional"  which says bronchodilators act "primarily as a
beta-adrenergic stimulant to relax the uterine muscle, thereby
inhibiting uterine contractions."  So, it does not appear to have
hormonal effects.

Kathy

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Kathy Koch, BSEd, IBCLC
Mom to Andrew, Abigail and Molly
LLL Leader, AAPL/OL for VA and MD/DE/DC
[log in to unmask]          Great Mills, MD, USA

"Within the child lies the fate of the future."   Maria Montessori
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