Proper Use of This Medicine

Dosing—The dose of ritodrine will be different for different women. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of ritodrine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The injection form of this medicine will be given to you by your health care professional.

• For oral dosage form (extended-release capsules):
  • Adults: In the first twenty-four hours after the doctor stops your intravenous ritodrine, your dose may be as high as 40 milligrams (mg) every eight hours. After that, the dose is usually 40 mg taken every eight to twelve hours. Your doctor may want you to take oral ritodrine up until it is time for you to deliver your baby or until your 37th week of pregnancy.
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • Adults: In the first twenty-four hours after the doctor stops your intravenous ritodrine, your dose may be as high as 10 mg every two hours. After that, the dose is usually 10 to 20 mg every four to six hours. Your doctor may want you to take oral ritodrine up until it is time for you to deliver your baby or until your 37th week of pregnancy.
• For injection dosage form:
  • Adults: 50 to 350 micrograms per minute, injected into a vein.

Missed dose—If you miss an oral dose of this medicine and remember within an hour or so of the missed dose, take it right away. However, if you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.