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What does it do?

Terbutaline is used to relieve breathing problems such as asthma. It opens narrowed airways in the lungs making it easier to breathe.

Before you start

  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

How should you use it?

Inhale terbutaline as directed by your healthcare professional.

Can you take other medicines?

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking, including vitamins, herbal products or recreational drugs.

What side effects might you notice?

Side EffectsRecommended action

Symptoms of a fast or irregular heartbeat including: fluttering, pounding or pain in your chest, dizziness or fainting

Tell your doctor immediately

Shaking, muscle cramps

Nervousness

Tell your doctor if troublesome

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

  • Some people with asthma may get short of breath after taking certain pain-relieving medicines such as aspirin (e.g. Aspec®), diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren®) or ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen®). Talk to your healthcare professional.
  • If you need to use terbutaline several times each week, your doctor may give you a ‘preventer’ inhaler. Preventers help reduce asthma symptoms and breathing problems.
  • The use of inhalers can sometimes make breathing worse. Discuss this with your healthcare professional.
  • Keep your terbutaline handy at all times, so you know where it is when you need it.

This leaflet contains important, but not all, information about this medicine.

Prepared by the MyMedicines Committee at Christchurch Hospital, Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha, New Zealand. March 2024

For more general information about this sheet and its contents, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

About My Medicines

My Medicines Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) contain important, but not all, information about the medicines they describe.

For more information about the sheets, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

My Medicines is developed by a team at Te Whatu Ora – Waitaha. Our team is made up of doctors, pharmacists, and a non-medical person to help us keep to plain language. We also discuss our information with specialist health professionals or groups when needed