[Drug interference and the role of anesthesia in such interference]

Abstract

This report considers interference between medications for, on the one hand, drugs given during pregnancy, and, on the other hand, drugs given to the pregnant women and anaesthetic agents. Consideration is given to progestational agents, oxytocics, beta-mimetics, corticosteroids, insulin, hypotensive agents, diuretics and psychiatric drugs. For each case of interference, an attempt is made to provide practical data, with particular respect to those combinations frequently prescribed by obstetricians, e.g. the combination of the beta-mimetics and corticosteroids with the aim of preventing impending premature onset of labour and to ensure foetal pulmonary maturation; the combination of insulin and corticosteroids given to diabetics with the aim of preventing hyaline membrane disease; the combination of corticosteroids with anti-histamines in the treatment of rhesus disease; the association of oxytocics with large quantities of intravenous fluid in the case of post-partum haemorrhage and hypontensive medication combinations and the problems which may result with emergency anaesthesis.