What it is used for
- Briefly delaying imminent preterm birth in an adult pregnancy meeting clinical criteria
- Allowing time for specialist care or other treatments chosen by the preterm-birth team
How it is used
- Treatment starts with an intravenous injection followed by an infusion given by a preterm-birth specialist team
- The team monitors contractions, the baby's heartbeat and the mother's condition
- It is not used at home or repeated without a specialist decision
- Tell the team immediately about bleeding, increasing pain or breathlessness
Possible side effects
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache, dizziness or flushing
- Fast heartbeat or low blood pressure
- Raised blood glucose
- Pain or a reaction at the injection site
Who should not use it
- A pregnancy in which delaying delivery is not recommended by the obstetric team
- Uterine bleeding requiring delivery, placental abruption or placenta praevia
- Severe pre-eclampsia, eclampsia or serious danger to mother or baby
- Allergy to atosiban or any ingredient
Before and while using it
- Leaking amniotic fluid, uterine infection or a placental problem can make continuing pregnancy unsafe
- A multiple pregnancy can increase the risk of fluid overload and pulmonary oedema during tocolysis
- The medicine does not prevent every preterm birth; monitoring continues after it is stopped
- Breathlessness, chest pain or sudden cough needs immediate assessment
- Continuing contractions despite treatment require reassessment and an alternative plan
Medicine interactions
- Tell the team about blood-pressure and heart medicines because they can increase dizziness or low blood pressure
- Combining it with other medicines that stop contractions requires close fluid, heart and lung monitoring
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- It is used during pregnancy only to delay suitable preterm labour under specialist supervision
- Tell the team if you are breastfeeding another child; the specialist will advise during treatment
How to store it
- It is stored and prepared by the hospital as directed and not used if the solution changes appearance
Get medical help straight away if
- Your face, lips or tongue swell, or you find it hard to breathe.
- You get a severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.
- A side effect worries you or doesn’t go away: contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this medicine?
Talk to a doctor by video, or send your question by text.
Source: Standard international medicine references
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without asking them, and always read the leaflet in the pack.