Efficacy and Safety of Nifedipine as a Tocolytic Agent in Preterm Labor.

OBJECTIVES

To study the success or failure of pregnancy with nifedipine and the side effects of nifedipine.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A prospective observational cohort study was conducted on 138 pregnant women between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation, diagnosed with preterm labor. Nifedipine 30 mg was administered orally. The dose was repeated as a maintenance therapy every 6 h for the next two days up to a maximum total dose of 160 mg.

RESULTS

Tocolysis was successful in 117 (84.78%) cases. The mode of delivery was vaginal delivery in 131 (94.93%) cases. Side effects of nifedipine were tachycardia in 20 (14.49%) cases, hypotension in 26 (18.84%), and headache in 10 (7.25%).

CONCLUSION

Nifedipine effectively prolonged preterm labor in 84.78% of cases, with 94.93% delivering vaginally with minimal manageable side effects. Overall, nifedipine was a safe and effective tocolytic agent.