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Tocolytic
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{{Short description|Drugs used to suppress premature births}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox medical intervention | name = Tocolytic | synonym = | image = | caption = | alt = | pronounce = | specialty =OB/GYN | synonyms = Labor suppressants | ICD10 = | ICD9 = | ICD9unlinked = | CPT = | MeshID = | LOINC = | other_codes = | MedlinePlus = }} '''Tocolytics''' (also called '''anti-contraction medications''' or '''labor suppressants''') are medications used to suppress [[premature labor]] (from Greek τόκος ''tókos'', "[[childbirth]]", and λύσις ''lúsis'', "loosening"). Preterm birth accounts for 70% of neonatal deaths.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|date=2016|title=Practice Bulletin No. 171: Management of Preterm Labor|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000001711|journal=Obstetrics & Gynecology|language=en-US|volume=128|issue=4|pages=e155–e164|doi=10.1097/AOG.0000000000001711|pmid=27661654|issn=0029-7844|author1=American College of Obstetricians Gynecologists' Committee on Practice Bulletins—Obstetrics|s2cid=5537988|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Therefore, tocolytic therapy is provided when delivery would result in [[premature birth]], postponing delivery long enough for the administration of [[glucocorticoid]]s (which accelerate fetal lung maturity) to be effective, as they may require one to two days to take effect. Commonly used tocolytic medications include [[Beta2-adrenergic agonist|β<sub>2</sub> agonists]], [[calcium channel blocker]]s, [[Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug|NSAIDs]], and [[magnesium sulfate]]. These can assist in delaying preterm delivery by suppressing uterine muscle contractions and their use is intended to reduce fetal [[Disease|morbidity]] and [[Mortality rate|mortality]] associated with preterm birth.<ref>{{Citation|last1=Mayer|first1=Christopher|title=Tocolysis|date=2021|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562212/|work=StatPearls|place=Treasure Island (FL)|publisher=StatPearls Publishing|pmid=32965883|access-date=2021-07-29|last2=Apodaca-Ramos|first2=Irasema}}</ref> The suppression of contractions is often only partial and tocolytics can only be relied on to delay birth for a matter of days. Depending on the tocolytic used, the pregnant woman or fetus may require monitoring (e.g., blood pressure monitoring when [[nifedipine]] is used as it reduces blood pressure; [[cardiotocography]] to assess fetal well-being). In any case, the risk of preterm labor alone justifies hospitalization.
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