Terbutaline Sulfate 2.5 mg Tablet, 100-count
🆔 Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Selective beta-2-adrenoreceptor agonists class.
Where does this data come from?
🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
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🩺 Clinical
Terbutaline is used to prevent and treat wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness caused by asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Terbutaline is in a class of medications called beta agonists. It works by relaxing and opening the airways, making it easier to breathe.
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗- Terbutaline is a bronchodilator — it relaxes and opens up the airways in your lungs. It's approved to prevent and relieve bronchospasm (that tight, wheezy feeling when your airways...
- The injection form works quite fast — you can notice an improvement in airflow within about 5 minutes, with a more significant benefit kicking in within 15 minutes. The tablet form...
- The most common things people notice are shakiness (tremor), nervousness, headache, dizziness, and a faster or pounding heartbeat. These are usually temporary and tend to settle do...
- What side effects should I expect — and which ones should make me call my doctor?
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Terbutaline may be associated with lower levels of 2 nutrients — worth a chat with your pharmacist, not a cause for alarm.
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Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
💊 What it looks like
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🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.
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UNII OP1R32D61U
Microcrystalline cellulose is a purified form of cellulose, a natural fiber from plant sources. It acts as a binder and filler in tablets and capsules, helping hold ingredients together and give the medicine its shape and size.
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UNII EWQ57Q8I5X
Lactose monohydrate is a natural sugar derived from milk. It serves as a filler and binder in tablets and capsules, helping create the proper size, texture, and consistency of the medicine.
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UNII 70097M6I30
Magnesium stearate is a salt made from magnesium and stearic acid, a fatty substance. It's used in tablets and capsules as a lubricant and glidant to help ingredients flow smoothly during manufacturing and prevent sticking.
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UNII FZ989GH94E
Povidone is a synthetic polymer made from a plastic-like material. It acts as a binder to hold tablet ingredients together and as a disintegrant to help the tablet break apart in your stomach so the medicine can be absorbed.
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UNII O8232NY3SJ
A plant-based carbohydrate derived from corn kernels. It acts as a filler to add bulk, a binder to hold ingredients together, and a disintegrant to help the tablet break apart in your stomach for absorption.
5 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
Where does this data come from?
ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.Inactive ingredient FAQ
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💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per ea | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | $1.020 | $102.03 / 100 tablets |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data. | |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $1.69 | $168.66 / 100 tablets |
Where does this data come from?
🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terbutaline Sulfate 2.5 mg 00115-2611-01 | Amneal | 100 tablets | $1.020 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Terbutaline Sulfate 2.5 mg 00527-1318-01 | Lannett | 100 tablets | $1.020 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Terbutaline Sulfate 2.5 mgthis 24979-0132-01 | Upsher-Smith | 100 tablets | $1.020 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Terbutaline Sulfate 2.5 mg 62135-0524-90 | Chartwell | 90 tablets | $1.020 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Terbutaline Sulfate 2.5 mg 62559-0721-01 | ANI | 100 tablets | $1.020 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Terbutaline Sulfate 2.5 mg 71205-0938-00 | Proficient | 100 tablets | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
Where does this data come from?
⏳ Availability & generic status
This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.
Where does this data come from?
📊 Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)
📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Per unit | Per pack | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24979-0132-01 You're viewing this | 100 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (24979-132-01) | $1.02 / ea | $102.03 | 2020-07-13 | Active |
| 24979-0132-03 | 1000 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (24979-132-03) | — | — | 2020-07-13 | Active |
You're viewing the smallest of 2 pack sizes for this product.
Pack size FAQ
What quantity is in NDC 24979-0132-01?
What is the difference between NDC 24979-0132-01 and NDC 24979-0132-03?
What NDC number is used to bill for this package of Terbutaline Sulfate 2.5 mg Tablet?
Prices are the latest CMS NADAC pharmacy acquisition cost per NDC; per-pack figures are per-unit × pack quantity, shown only when the pack is denominated in the same measure NADAC prices.
📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🚨 Boxed Warning ▾
WARNING: TOCOLYSIS Oral terbutaline sulfate has not been approved and should not be used for acute or maintenance tocolysis. In particular, terbutaline sulfate should not be used for maintenance tocolysis in the outpatient or home setting. Serious adverse reactions, including death, have been reported after administration of terbutaline sulfate to pregnant women.
In the mother, these adverse reactions include increased heart rate, transient hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary edema and myocardial ischemia. Increased fetal heart rate and neonatal hypoglycemia may occur as a result of maternal administration. [see Contraindications, Tocolysis . ]
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Terbutaline sulfate is indicated for the prevention and reversal of bronchospasm in patients 12 years of age and older with asthma and reversible bronchospasm associated with bronchitis and emphysema.
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Adults The usual oral dose of terbutaline sulfate for adults is 5 mg administered at approximately six-hour intervals, three times daily, during the hours the patient is usually awake. If side effects are particularly disturbing, the dose may be reduced to 2.5 mg three times daily, and still provide a clinically significant improvement in pulmonary function. The total dose within 24 hours should not exceed 15 mg.
Children Terbutaline sulfate is not recommended for use in children below the age of 12 years. A dosage of 2.5 mg three times daily is recommended for children 12-15 years of age. The total dose within 24 hours should not exceed 7.5 mg.
If a previously effective dosage regimen fails to provide the usual relief, medical advice should be sought immediately as this is often a sign of seriously worsening asthma that would require reassessment of therapy.
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS 1. Tocolysis Oral terbutaline sulfate has not been approved and should not be used for acute or maintenance tocolysis. [see Boxed Warning: Tocolysis . ] 2. Hypersensitivity Terbutaline sulfate is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to sympathomimetic amines or any component of this drug product.
⚠️ Warnings ▾
WARNINGS Deterioration of Asthma Asthma may deteriorate acutely over a period of hours or chronically over several days or longer. If the patient needs more doses of terbutaline sulfate than usual, this may be a marker of destabilization of asthma and requires reevaluation of the patient and the treatment regimen, giving special consideration to the possible need for anti-inflammatory treatment, e.g., corticosteroids. Use of Anti-Inflammatory Agents The use of beta-adrenergic agonist bronchodilators alone may not be adequate to control asthma in many patients.
Early consideration should be given to adding anti-inflammatory agents, e.g., corticosteroids. Cardiovascular Effects Terbutaline sulfate, like all other beta-adrenergic agonists, can produce a clinically significant cardiovascular effect in some patients as measured by pulse rate, blood pressure, and/or symptoms. Although such effects are uncommon after administration of terbutaline sulfate at recommended doses, if they occur, the drug may need to be discontinued.
In addition, beta-agonists have been reported to produce electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, such as flattening of the T wave, prolongation of the QTc interval, and ST segment depression. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown. Therefore, terbutaline sulfate, like all sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension.
Seizures There have been rare reports of seizures in patients receiving terbutaline; seizures did not recur in these patients after the drug was discontinued.
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
ADVERSE REACTIONS Adverse reactions observed with terbutaline sulfate are similar to those commonly seen with other sympathomimetic amines. All of these reactions are generally transient in nature and usually do not require treatment. The frequency of these side effects appears to diminish with continued therapy.
The following table lists the adverse reactions seen in 199 patients treated with terbutaline sulfate tablets during six double-blind crossover studies and four double-blind parallel studies (short- and long-term) performed in the United States. Percent Incidence of Adverse Reactions (Total Daily Dosage Range 5 to 15 mg) Terbutaline N=199 Reaction % Nervous System Nervousness
35.0 Tremor
15.0 Somnolence
5.5 Dizziness
3.5 Anxiety
1.0 Insomnia
1.5 Cardiovascular Palpitations
5.0 Tachycardia
3.5 Extrasystoles ventricular
1.5 Vasodilations
1.0 Digestive Nausea
3.0 Dry mouth
1.5 Body as a Whole Headache
7.5 Asthenia
2.0 Skin and Appendages Sweating
1.0The following adverse effects each occurred in fewer than 1% of patients: hallucinations, rash, paresthesia, hypertonia, (muscle cramps), vomiting. There have been rare reports of elevations in liver enzymes and of hypersensitivity vasculitis.
🔄 Drug Interactions ▾
Drug Interactions The concomitant use of terbutaline sulfate with other sympathomimetic agents is not recommended, since the combined effect on the cardiovascular system may be deleterious to the patient. However, this does not preclude the use of an aerosol bronchodilator of the adrenergic-stimulant type for the relief of an acute bronchospasm in patients receiving chronic oral therapy with terbutaline sulfate.
🤰 Pregnancy ▾
Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of terbutaline sulfate in pregnant women. Published animal studies show that rat offspring exhibit alterations in behavior and brain development, including decreased cellular proliferation and differentiation when dams were treated subcutaneously with terbutaline during the late stage of pregnancy and lactation period. Terbutaline exposures in rat dams were approximately 6.5 times the common human dose in adults of 15 mg/day, on a mg/m 2 basis.
Oral terbutaline sulfate has not been approved and should not be used for acute or maintenance tocolysis. In particular, terbutaline sulfate should not be used for tocolysis in the outpatient or home setting. Serious adverse reactions, including death, have been reported after administration of terbutaline sulfate to pregnant women.
In the mother, these adverse reactions include increased heart rate, transient hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary edema and myocardial ischemia. Increased fetal heart rate and neonatal hypoglycemia may occur as a result of maternal administration. [See Boxed Warning: Tocolysis and Contraindications, Tocolysis . ] In animal embryofetal developmental studies, no teratogenic effects were observed in offspring when pregnant rats and rabbits received terbutaline sulfate at oral doses up to 50 mg/kg/day, approximately 32 and 65 times, respectively, the maximum recommended daily oral dose for adults, on a mg/m 2 basis.
Terbutaline sulfate should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
🧒 Pediatric Use ▾
Pediatric Use Terbutaline sulfate is not recommended for patients under the age of 12 years because of insufficient clinical data to establish safety and effectiveness [see Dosage and Administration] .
🧓 Geriatric Use ▾
Geriatric Use Clinical studies of terbutaline sulfate did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
🆘 Overdosage ▾
OVERDOSAGE The median subcutaneous lethal dose of terbutaline sulfate in mature rats is approximately 165 mg/kg (approximately 90 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose for adults on a mg/m 2 basis). The median subcutaneous lethal dose of terbutaline sulfate in young rats is approximately 2000 mg/kg (approximately 1100 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose for adults on a mg/m 2 basis). The expected symptoms with overdosage are those of excessive beta-adrenergic stimulation and/or occurrence or exaggeration of any of the symptoms listed under Adverse Reactions , e.g., seizures, angina, hypertension or hypotension, tachycardia with rates up to 200 beats per minute, arrhythmias, nervousness, headache, tremor, dry mouth, palpitation, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, malaise, and insomnia.
Hypokalemia may also occur. There is no specific antidote. Treatment consists of discontinuation of terbutaline sulfate together with appropriate symptomatic therapy.
The judicious use of a cardioselective beta-receptor blocker may be considered, bearing in mind that such medication can produce bronchospasm. There is insufficient evidence to determine if dialysis is beneficial for overdosage of terbutaline sulfate. In the alert patient who has taken excessive oral medication, the stomach should be emptied by induced emesis followed by lavage.
In the unconscious patient, the airway should be secured with a cuffed endotracheal tube before lavage, and emesis should not be induced. Instillation of activated charcoal slurry may help reduce absorption of terbutaline. Adequate respiratory exchange should be maintained, and cardiac and respiratory support provided as needed.
The patient should be monitored until signs and symptoms of overdosage have subsided.
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY In vitro and in vivo pharmacologic studies have demonstrated that terbutaline exerts a preferential effect on beta 2 -adrenergic receptors. While it is recognized that beta 2 -adrenergic receptors are the predominant receptors in bronchial smooth muscle, data indicate that there is a population of beta 2 -receptors in the human heart, existing in a concentration between 10% to 50%. The precise function of these receptors has not been established (see Warnings ).
In controlled clinical studies in patients given terbutaline sulfate orally, proportionally greater changes occurred in pulmonary function parameters than in heart rate or blood pressure. While this suggests a relative preference for the beta 2 -receptors in man, the usual cardiovascular effects commonly associated with other sympathomimetic agents were also observed with terbutaline sulfate. The pharmacologic effects of beta-adrenergic agonists, including terbutaline, are at least in part attributable to stimulation through beta-adrenergic receptors of intracellular adenyl cyclase, the enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to cyclic 3’, 5’-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP).
Increased cAMP levels are associated with relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle and inhibition of release of mediators of immediate hypersensitivity from cells, especially from mast cells. Controlled clinical studies have shown that terbutaline sulfate relieves bronchospasm in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by significantly increasing pulmonary function (e.g., an increase of 15% or more in FEV 1 and in FEF 25%-75% ). After administration of terbutaline sulfate tablets, a measurable change in flow rate usually occurs within 30 minutes, and a clinically significant improvement in pulmonary function occurs within 60 to 120 minutes.
The maximum effect usually occurs within 120 to 180 minutes. Terbutaline sulfate also produces a clinically significant decrease in airway and pulmonary resistance, which persists for 4 hours or longer. Significant bronchodilator action (as measured by airway resistance, FEF 25%-75% or PEFR) has also been demonstrated for up to 8 hours in some studies.
In studies comparing the effectiveness of terbutaline sulfate with that of ephedrine for up to 3 months, both drugs maintained a significant improvement in pulmonary function throughout this period of treatment. Preclinical Studies in laboratory animals (minipigs, rodents, and dogs) have demonstrated the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death (with histologic evidence of myocardial necrosis) when beta-agonists and methylxanthines were administered concurrently. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown.
Pharmacokinetics Oral administration of 5-mg terbutaline sulfate tablets or 5 mg terbutaline sulfate in solution in 17 healthy, adult, male subjects, resulted in mean (SD) peak plasma terbutaline concentration of 8.3 (3.9) and 8.6 (3.6) ng/mL, which were observed at median (range) times of 2 (1 to 3) and 1.5 (0.5 to 3.0) hours after dosing. The mean (SD) AUC (0-48) values were 54.6 (26.8) and 53.1 (23.5) hr•ng/mL, and corresponded to a bioavailability of 103% for the tablet relative to the solution. After oral administration of terbutaline, 51 to 62 mcg/kg of body weight, to 3 healthy male subjects, peak serum levels of 3.1 to 6.2 ng/mL were observed 1 to 3 hours later.
In the same study, after 3 days only 30% to 50% of the dose was recovered from urine and the remainder from the feces, which may indicate poor absorption. After an oral dose to asthmatic patients, the elimination half-life of terbutaline was approximately 3.4 hours. In comparison to oral dosing, subcutaneous administration of 0.5 mg of terbutaline sulfate to 17 healthy, adult, male subjects resulted in a mean (SD) peak plasma terbutaline concentration of 9.6 (3.6) ng/mL, which was observed at a median (range) time of 0.5 (0.08 to 1.0) hours after dosing.
The mean (SD) AUC (0-48)…
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
HOW SUPPLIED Terbutaline sulfate tablets, USP are packaged in bottles of 100 and 1,000 tablets. Descriptions of the 2.5 and 5 mg tablets follow: Tablets 2.5 mg - White to off-white, oval tablets, scored on one side and engraved with “T132” on the other side Bottles of 100 NDC 24979-132-01 Bottles of 1,000 NDC 24979-132-03 Tablets 5 mg - White to off-white, round, scored and engraved “T” above and “133” below the score on the scored side. Bottles of 100 NDC 24979-133-01 Bottles of 1,000 NDC 24979-133-03 Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].
Dispense in a tight, light-resistant container as defined in the USP with a child-resistant closure Distributed by UPSHER-SMITH LABORATORIES, LLC Maple Grove, MN 55369 Made in Taiwan LA-3124-03 Revised: 5/2025
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION Terbutaline sulfate USP is a beta-adrenergic agonist bronchodilator available as tablets of 2.5 mg (2.05 mg of the free base) and 5 mg (4.1 mg of the free base) for oral administration. Terbutaline sulfate is ±-α-[( tert –butylamino) methyl]-3,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol sulfate (2:1) (salt). The molecular formula is (C 12 H 19 NO 3 ) 2 • H 2 SO 4 and the structural formula is Terbutaline sulfate USP is a white to gray-white crystalline powder.
It is odorless or has a faint odor of acetic acid. It is soluble in water and in 0.1N hydrochloric acid, slightly soluble in methanol, and insoluble in chloroform. Its molecular weight is 548.65.
Inactive Ingredients: lactose monohydrate, pregelatinized starch, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and magnesium stearate. image description
💬 Information for Patients ▾
Information for Patients The action of terbutaline sulfate should last up to 6 hours or longer. Terbutaline sulfate should not be used more frequently than recommended. Do not increase the dose or frequency of terbutaline sulfate without consulting your physician.
If you find that treatment with terbutaline sulfate becomes less effective for symptomatic relief, your symptoms become worse, and/or you need to use the product more frequently than usual, you should seek medical attention immediately. While taking terbutaline sulfate, other inhaled drugs and asthma medications should be taken only as directed by your physician. Common adverse effects include palpitations, chest pain, rapid heart rate, tremor or nervousness.
If you are pregnant or nursing, contact your physician about use of terbutaline sulfate. Effective and safe use of terbutaline sulfate includes an understanding of the way that it should be administered.