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Condition

Preterm Labor

Preterm labor is when regular contractions begin to open the cervix before 37 weeks of pregnancy, as the body starts preparing for birth too early. The evidence is strongest for atosiban, and a placebo-controlled trial found more women had not yet delivered after 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days. Those gains were seen from 28 weeks onward, while it was less effective earlier in pregnancy.

Sources: PMID 35947046; PMID 14664874

Supplements studied
0
Medicines and peptides
1
Graded outcomes
5
No supplement studies yetWe haven’t found supplement studies for Preterm Labor. The medicines and peptides studied for it are listed below.

Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context

These are not supplements. Most need a prescription, and some are research compounds with no approved use.

1 medicine or peptide

Atosiban

Atosiban: outcomes studied for Preterm Labor
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Tocolytic Efficacy vs Beta-Agonists

vs Salbutamol: 48h efficacy 93.3% vs 95.0% (P=0.67). vs Terbutaline: 48h efficacy 86.1% vs 85.3% (P=0.78). Comparable tocolytic effectiveness with better safety profile. Some trials suggest slightly lower initial success rate.

NoneNo effect18 studies

Studies that measured tocolytic efficacy vs beta-agonists

and 15 more on the Atosiban page

Pregnancy Prolongation (48h-7 days)

Romero Phase 3 (n=501): Significantly more undelivered at 24h, 48h, and 7 days vs placebo (all P≤0.008) at ≥28 weeks. Allows time for corticosteroid administration. Less effective at <28 weeks gestational age.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect17 studies

Studies that measured pregnancy prolongation (48h-7 days)

and 14 more on the Atosiban page

Maternal Tolerability vs Beta-Agonists

vs Ritodrine: Adverse events 7.9% vs 70.8%, early termination 0% vs 20%. vs Salbutamol: Better tolerated with comparable efficacy. vs Terbutaline: Fewer clinically important adverse events. No cardiovascular side effects seen with beta-agonists.

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect14 studies

Studies that measured maternal tolerability vs beta-agonists

and 11 more on the Atosiban page

Neonatal Outcomes

Cochrane 2014: No superiority vs placebo, beta-agonists, or CCBs for neonatal outcomes. Similar neonatal morbidity across comparators. One trial noted increased fetal deaths at <24 weeks - use caution at early gestational ages.

NoneNo effect14 studies

Studies that measured neonatal outcomes

and 11 more on the Atosiban page

Maternal Side Effects

Most common: Nausea (mild). No tachycardia, hypotension, or hyperglycemia seen with beta-agonists. No pulmonary edema risk. Fewer treatment discontinuations. Generally well-tolerated by mother and fetus.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect14 studies

Studies that measured maternal side effects

and 11 more on the Atosiban page

Key findings

  • Tocolytic Efficacy vs Beta-AgonistsAtosiban
  • Pregnancy Prolongation (48h-7 days)AtosibanImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Maternal Tolerability vs Beta-AgonistsAtosibanImproves (the measure goes up)

Safety notes in the studies

  • vs Ritodrine: Adverse events 7.9% vs 70.8%, early termination 0% vs 20%.
  • vs Terbutaline: Fewer clinically important adverse events.
  • One trial noted increased fetal deaths at <24 weeks - use caution at early gestational ages.

Studies cited

18 studies from PubMed

  1. Efficacy of atosiban for repeated embryo implantation failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in endocrinology, 2023 · PMID 37033236
  2. Tocolysis with nifedipine versus atosiban and perinatal outcome: an individual participant data meta-analysis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2022 · PMID 35840927
  3. Tocolytics for delaying preterm birth: a network meta-analysisCochrane Database Syst Rev, 2022 · PMID 35947046
  4. Atosiban Combined with Ritodrine for Late Threatened Abortion or Threatened Premature Labor Patients with No Response to Ritodrine: A Clinical Trial.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, 2021 · PMID 33731666
  5. Usefulness of atosiban for tocolysis during external cephalic version: Systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, 2021 · PMID 33421816
  6. Short-Term Outcomes of Atosiban in the Treatment of Preterm Labour at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman: A tertiary care experienceSultan Qaboos Univ Med J, 2021 · PMID 34221474
  7. Atosiban improves the outcome of embryo transfer. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized trials.JBRA assisted reproduction, 2020 · PMID 32401462
  8. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of atosiban versus nifedipine for inhibition of preterm labor.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 2019 · PMID 30784056
  9. A meta-analysis of atosiban supplementation among patients undergoing assisted reproduction.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 2017 · PMID 28695395
  10. Evaluation of the efficacy of atosiban in pregnant women with threatened preterm labor associated with assisted reproductive technologyJ Matern Fetal Neonatal Med, 2017 · PMID 27212183
  11. Oxytocin receptor antagonists for inhibiting preterm labourCochrane Database Syst Rev, 2014 · PMID 24903678
  12. Atosiban versus usual care for the management of preterm laborJ Perinat Med, 2006 · PMID 17614750
  13. Effectiveness of nifedipine versus atosiban for tocolysis in preterm labour: a meta-analysis with an indirect comparison of randomised trials.BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 2003 · PMID 14664874
  14. The oxytocin antagonist atosiban versus the beta-agonist terbutaline in the treatment of preterm labor. A randomized, double-blind, controlled studyActa Obstet Gynecol Scand, 2001 · PMID 11328217
  15. Treatment of preterm labor with the oxytocin antagonist atosiban: a double-blind, randomized, controlled comparison with salbutamolEur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 2001 · PMID 11574128
  16. Maintenance treatment of preterm labor with the oxytocin antagonist atosibanAm J Obstet Gynecol, 2000 · PMID 10819856
  17. Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of atosiban and ritodrine in the treatment of preterm labor: a multicenter effectiveness and safety studyAm J Obstet Gynecol, 2000 · PMID 10819857
  18. An oxytocin receptor antagonist (atosiban) in the treatment of preterm labor: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with tocolytic rescueAm J Obstet Gynecol, 2000 · PMID 10819855