Uterine Contraction Agents, Tocolytics, Vaginal Therapeutics, and Local Contraceptives

This chapter presents an account of drugs that play a role in strengthening or inhibiting uterine contraction, including tocolytics, vaginal therapeutics, and local contraceptives. These drugs include prostaglandins, oxytocin, ergot alkaloids, and β2-sympathicomimetics. Tocolytic agents can stop uterine contractions and temporarily delay delivery. Among the most common agents used as tocolytics are calcium antagonists, 3-adrenergic agents, oxytocin antagonists, prostaglandin antagonists, and magnesium sulfate. Vaginal therapeutics is used to treat bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy. Antimycotics of first choice for local therapy of vaginal candidiasis are nystatin, clotrimazole, and miconazole. Finally, local contraceptives can be spermicide contraceptives or intrauterine devices. Spermicide contraceptives, also knows as "over-the-counter" (OTC) spermicides are sold as cream, gel, tablets, or foam, and contain nonomixol-9. The most commonly used intrauterine device is copper IUD.