Aims. The present study was carried out to assess the effect of the selective β₂-adrenoceptor agonists on erythropoietin (EPO) production. Methods. Routine tocolysis with fenoterol (using the regular rate of 2 μg min^-1) was used as a clinically easily accessible model. Results. EPO concentrations had doubled 24 h after the start of tocolysis (P < 0.001). This increase lasted over the entire observation period of 48 h. Potassium concentrations fell significantly during the first hours of fenoterol infusion. There was no increase of human placenta lactogen during the period of EPO increase. Conclusions. The data confirm our earlier results that fenoterol increases EPO concentrations following haemorrhage. In this model it was not necessary to stimulate EPO production prior to pharmacological treatment.