Let's take a minute to talk about your medication.

This is terbutaline. This medicine helps prevent and treat breathing problems from asthma, bronchitis or emphysema. Terbutaline may have other uses, too.

Terbutaline is often taken three times a day. The doses are separated as close to 6 hours apart as possible, and only taken during daytime hours. This helps the effects wear off by nighttime, so you can sleep well. You should take this medicine exactly as YOUR doctor tells YOU to.   

It's important to know that if your asthma symptoms ever seem worse, you should call your doctor right away. This is because you may need other treatments to make sure you can breathe.

Most patients tolerate this medicine well, but side effects can occur. It can make you feel nervous or shaky, or have a headache or nausea. Some patients have heart palpitations or a fast heartbeat. These effects are normal if they are mild, and should go away. It could also cause dizziness. If these or other side effects become reasons you want to stop taking terbutaline, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist. 

As with any medicine, more serious side effects could occur. With terbutaline, these include chest pain, fluid in the lungs, and seizures. It could also cause low blood pressure, low blood potassium and high blood sugar. These effects are not likely with usual doses. To help keep this medicine safe for you, your doctor will follow you closely.  

You should check with your doctor or pharmacist before any taking other medicines, even if they do not require a prescription. 

Women who become pregnant while taking this medicine should contact their doctor.

For best results with terbutaline, consider tracking your breathing symptoms, and share the results with your doctor.