Lisa Marasco IBCLC wrote:

> If ventolin and terbutaline both relax smooth muscle, wouldn't that
> also
> apply to the myoepithelial cells of the alveoli?  The implications of
> what you are saying is that oxytocin is not affected, the receptors
> are
> not affected, but the smooth muscle *is* affected, rendering it
> unresponsive.  In other words, is it possible that ventolin relaxes
> the
> myoepithelium and therefore blocks let down?

Perhaps true.  I had not thought of the smooth muscle of breast tissue.
But, the original question was does the drug inhibit *release* of
oxytocin, not related to the smooth muscle involvement. Plus, as we can
see from women who deliver while taking the drug, it isn't always
effective. And, surely there are asthmatic women taking these meds who
breastfeed successfully.  Perhaps the effects of the Ventolin, etc would
be enough to put someone "over the edge" if they had other risk factors
for inhibited let down.

Just a thought or two...

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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