Drotaverine hydrochloride for augmentation of labor.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To study the use of drotaverine hydrochloride for acceleration of labor and relief of labor pains.

METHODS:

In this double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study, 100 primigravidas in uncomplicated spontaneous labor at term were given drotaverine hydrochloride or placebo (distilled water) intramuscularly. Labor events, including pain (assessed by a visual analog scale and a verbal rating scale), neonatal outcome, and side effects of the drug were recorded. Student's t-test was used for analysis.

RESULTS:

Forty-four patients in the drug group and 40 in the placebo group had complete data for analysis after decoding. In drotaverine group, there was a mean 15% reduction in the duration of the first stage of labor and a mean 19% reduction in the second stage. The maximum shortening of the first stage (28%) was observed when drotaverine was administered when cervical dilatation was 4 cm (P=0.044). There were no adverse fetal effects, but atonic postpartum hemorrhage was more common in the drotaverine group. There was no relief of pain with the drug except in the fourth stage of labor.

CONCLUSIONS:

Drotaverine hydrochloride is safe and effective in accelerating labor, but not effective in lessening labor pain.

• Authors: K C Singh, P Jain, N Goel, A Saxena
• Journal: International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Int J Gynaecol Obstet) Vol. 84 Issue 1 Pg. 17-22 (Jan 2004) ISSN: 0020-7292 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14698825 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Parasympatholytics
• drotaverin
• Papaverine

Topics

• Adult
• Analgesia, Obstetrical (methods)
• Analgesics (adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cervix Uteri (drug effects)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Labor Stage, First (drug effects)
• Labor, Obstetric (drug effects)
• Pain Measurement
• Papaverine (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Parasympatholytics (adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Postpartum Hemorrhage (chemically induced)
• Pregnancy