Biomaterial Database

Drugs and uterine motility. 1999

R G Payton, and M C Brucker

Parkland School of Nurse-Midwifery at Parkland Memorial Hospital, University of Texas SWMC in Dallas, USA.

Nurses who care for pregnant and laboring women are faced with an increasingly frequent use of pharmaceutical agents that facilitate initiation of labor (uterotropins), augment labor (uterotonics), or potentially stop labor (tocolytics). The choice of the drug, administration, side effects, and complications varies. Knowledge about uterine physiology helps the clinician understand the action of these agents. Knowledge of the differences and similarities among oxytoxics, ergots, prostaglandins, and the various drugs used as tocolytics is essential for safe and effective care of women and their fetuses who may be exposed to these agents.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008755	Methylergonovine	A homolog of ERGONOVINE containing one more CH2 group. (Merck Index, 11th ed)	Methylergobasin,Methylergometrin,Methergin,Methergine,Methylergometrine,Methylergometrine Maleate,Methylergonovine Maleate,Méthergin
D010120	Oxytocics	Drugs that stimulate contraction of the myometrium. They are used to induce LABOR, OBSTETRIC at term, to prevent or control postpartum or postabortion hemorrhage, and to assess fetal status in high risk pregnancies. They may also be used alone or with other drugs to induce abortions (ABORTIFACIENTS). Oxytocics used clinically include the neurohypophyseal hormone OXYTOCIN and certain prostaglandins and ergot alkaloids. (From AMA Drug Evaluations, 1994, p1157)	Oxytocic,Oxytocic Agent,Oxytocic Drug,Uterine Stimulant,Uterine Stimulants,Oxytocic Agents,Oxytocic Drugs,Oxytocic Effect,Oxytocic Effects,Agent, Oxytocic,Agents, Oxytocic,Drug, Oxytocic,Drugs, Oxytocic,Effect, Oxytocic,Effects, Oxytocic,Stimulant, Uterine,Stimulants, Uterine
D010121	Oxytocin	A nonapeptide hormone released from the neurohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, POSTERIOR). It differs from VASOPRESSIN by two amino acids at residues 3 and 8. Oxytocin acts on SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS, such as causing UTERINE CONTRACTIONS and MILK EJECTION.	Ocytocin,Pitocin,Syntocinon
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011453	Prostaglandins	A group of compounds derived from unsaturated 20-carbon fatty acids, primarily arachidonic acid, via the cyclooxygenase pathway. They are extremely potent mediators of a diverse group of physiological processes.	Prostaglandin,Prostanoid,Prostanoids
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014599	Uterus	The hollow thick-walled muscular organ in the female PELVIS. It consists of the fundus which is the site of EMBRYO IMPLANTATION and FETAL DEVELOPMENT. Beyond the isthmus at the perineal end of fundus, is CERVIX UTERI (the neck) opening into VAGINA. Beyond the isthmi at the upper abdominal end of fundus, are the FALLOPIAN TUBES.	Fundus Uteri,Uteri,Uterine Cornua,Uterine Fundus,Uterus Cornua,Womb,Cornua, Uterine,Fundus Uterus,Fundus, Uterine,Uteri, Fundus,Wombs
D015149	Tocolytic Agents	Drugs that prevent preterm labor and immature birth by suppressing uterine contractions (TOCOLYSIS). Agents used to delay premature uterine activity include magnesium sulfate, beta-mimetics, oxytocin antagonists, calcium channel inhibitors, and adrenergic beta-receptor agonists. The use of intravenous alcohol as a tocolytic is now obsolete.	Tocolytic,Tocolytic Agent,Tocolytic Effect,Tocolytic Effects,Tocolytics,Agent, Tocolytic,Agents, Tocolytic,Effect, Tocolytic,Effects, Tocolytic