Hypotension Associated with Terbutaline Therapy in Acute Quadriplegia

Two quadriplegic patients with evidence of autonomic dysfunction developed severe hypotension after subcutaneous administration of terbutaline. Rechallenge with a lower dose of terbutaline suggests the mechanism to be a drug-related depression of systemic vascular resistance. In the setting of acute quadriplegia with autonomic dysfunction, terbutaline may produce significant cardiovascular instability resulting in severe hypotension.