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Pamela's Twins & Multiples Blog

By Pamela Prindle Fierro, About.com Guide to Twins & Multiples since 2001

Lawsuit Targets Popular Drug for Preterm Labor

Tuesday July 27, 2004
A Maryland family is is suing the hospitals and doctors that delivered their twins over the use of a drug which they say caused brain damage to their now three-year-old fraternal boys. Brethine, or trebutaline, is commonly prescribed to prevent preterm labor in multiple pregnancies. However, it is not approved by the FDA... ...for this purpose. It is actually an asthma drug that is used "off-label" as a tocolytic to relax the uterus and stop contractions. Whether it is responsible for brain damage in the Maryland boys is unknown, however the outcome of this lawsuit could have a far-reaching effect on the future treatment of multiple pregnancies.

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