Terbutaline and Autistic Spectrum Disorders

As researchers look into the causes of the dramatic increase in the number of new ASD cases diagnosed, one avenue of investigation is a possible link between Terbutaline and autistic spectrum disorders.

Brethine and Autism

Terbutaline is a prescription medication that is used in the control of asthma. It is also sold under the names Brethine, Brethaire, Brican, Bricanyl, Bricyn, Bricaril, Terbutalin, Terbutalina, Terbutaline Sulfate, Terbutalino, and Terbutalinum. This medication works by relaxing the smooth muscles, helping to open bronchial passageways that become restricted by an asthma attack to ease breathing. For this purpose, Terbutaline has been approved by the FDA, deemed safe and effective.

Another use for which Terbutaline has become quite common is in Tocolytic therapy, the purpose of which is to delay or inhibit labor in pregnant women. This medication is believed to work in much the same way on the smooth muscles of the uterus as it does in the bronchial tubes, relaxing them to ease the intensity of contractions. This medication is often given to stop an episode of pre-term labor in women or to prevent its onset in women who are at high risk for premature delivery.

The dosage used varies, as does the method of delivery used to administer Terbutaline. Most women who are prescribed this medication take it orally, but some are placed on a Terbutaline pump to administer a constant and steady flow of the medication into the bloodstream, a technique that is generally reserved for those at the highest risk for premature delivery. However, although the drug has been popularly prescribed in pre-term labor cases since 1974, Terbutaline has not been approved for use in this manner by the FDA, a situation that is described within the medical community as off-label usage. In fact, the FDA and the manufacturer of this drug warn against using it to treat pre-term labor.

In recent years, a variety of side effects have been noted in both pregnant women and their children when Terbutaline is administered during pregnancy. Side effects in the mother can include increased or irregular heart rate, dizziness, headaches, blood pressure irregularities, nervousness, tremors, pulmonary edema, and seizures. In the unborn child, the side effects can be even more serious, carrying lifelong consequences. According to current research, children who are exposed to Terbutaline during gestation can have effects such as brain damage, speech delays, developmental delays, movement disorders, and autism spectrum disorders.

According to researchers, when Terbutaline is given during the gestation period, it can cause certain neuro-transmitters in the brain to become over stimulated. This excessive stimulation can result in a condition called neuroinflammation, which can be very damaging to neuro-receptors that are essential to normal brain development. This process has been cited by researchers as a likely contributor to the development of autism spectrum disorders, with some labeling the drug a developmental neurotoxicant. Terbutaline induced neuroinflammation has been indicated in two ways as a possible catalyst for the development of autism.

Neuroinflammation activates neuroglia, which are immune cells, and increases cytikines, which are immune chemicals. Neuroglia are essential to nerve cell function, with cells called Astroglia contributing to detoxification, producing growth factors, and secreting inflammatory and anti-inflammatory chemicals in response to a brain injury or neuronal dysfunction. Another type of Neurogila, Microglia help to develop connections between neurons and assist the immune system of the brain to detect abnormal cells. Both of these types of Neurogila play critical roles in brain development, and when they are disrupted, as in the over stimulation that Terbutaline can cause, changes may be produced that can contribute to the development of autism. Another possible link between Terbutaline and autistic spectrum disorders lies in the findings by researchers that prenatal exposure to this drug can cause the brain to become abnormally vulnerable to environmental pollutants, such as pesticides.

Many researchers believe that there is no one cause for autism spectrum disorders, but varying combinations of genetic vulnerabilities and environmental factors involved. While more research is needed on the connection between autism and Terbutaline, recent studies do support the premise that this drug may be one of those environmental factors, increasing the risk of autism in children whose mothers were prescribed this drug during pregnancy. However, if your child is among the many exposed to this drug prenatally, it is important to remember that many children suffer no ill effects from its use. Researchers are leaning towards the conclusion that certain genetic factors make some children more vulnerable than others to the affects of Terbutaline. So, while it may be wise to educate yourself on the early signs of autism under such circumstances, there is no reason to panic, as chances are that your child will develop quite normally.

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