Home

About

FAQ Section

News/Articles

Add Health Site

Sitemap


< Back to Prescription Drug Index

Discuss prescriptions and health topics in the new HealthDigest Forum

Dopamine hydrochloride
Dopamine hydrochloride (Intropin)
Dopamine hydrochloride
(DOH-pah-meen)
Pregnancy Category: C Intropin (Rx)

Classification: Sympathomimetic, direct- and indirect-acting; cardiac stimulant and vasopressor

See Also: See also Sympathomimetic Drugs .

Action/Kinetics: Dopamine is the immediate precursor of epinephrine in the body. Exogenously administered, it produces direct stimulation of beta-1 receptors and variable (dose-dependent) stimulation of alpha receptors (peripheral vasoconstriction). Will cause a release of norepinephrine from its storage sites . These actions result in increased myocardial contraction, CO, and SV, as well as increased renal blood flow and sodium excretion. Exerts little effect on DBP and induces fewer arrhythmias than are seen with isoproterenol. Onset: 5 min. Duration: 10 min. t1/2: 2 min. Does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Metabolized in liver and excreted in urine.

Uses: Cardiogenic shock due to MI, trauma, endotoxic septicemia, open heart surgery, renal failure, and chronic cardiac decompensation (as in CHF). Clients most likely to respond include those in whom urine flow, myocardial function, and BP have not deteriorated significantly. Best responses are observed when the time is short between onset of symptoms of shock and initiation of dopamine and volume correction. Investigational: COPD, CHF, respiratory distress syndrome in infants.

Additional Contraindications: Pheochromocytoma, uncorrected tachycardia or arrhythmias. Pediatric clients.

Special Concerns: Use with caution during lactation. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children. Dosage may have to be adjusted in geriatric clients with occlusive vascular disease.

Additional Side Effects: CV: Ectopic heartbeats, tachycardia, anginal pain, palpitations, vasoconstriction, hypotension, hypertension. Infrequently: aberrant conduction, bradycardia, widened QRS complex. Other: Dyspnea, headache, mydriasis. Infrequently, piloerection, azotemia, polyuria. High doses may cause mydriasis and ventricular arrhythmia. Extravasation may result in necrosis and sloughing of surrounding tissue.

Overdose Management: Symptoms: Extravasation. Treatment: To prevent sloughing and necrosis, infiltrate as soon as possible with 10-15 mL of 0.9% NaCl solution containing 5-10 mg phentolamine using a syringe with a fine needle. Infiltrate liberally throughout the ischemic area.

Additional Drug Interactions: Diuretics / Additive or potentiating effect Phenytoin / Hypotension and bradycardia Propranolol / Effect of dopamine

How Supplied: Injection: 40 mg/mL, 80 mg/mL, 160 mg/mL

Dosage
•IV Infusion Shock.
Initial: 2-5 mcg/kg/min; then, increase in increments of 1-4 mcg/kg/min at 10-30-min intervals until desired response is obtained.
Severely ill clients.
Initial: 5 mcg/kg/min; then, increase rate in increments of 5-10 mcg/kg/min up to 20-50 mcg/kg/min as needed.

NOTE:
Dopamine is a potent drug. Be sure to dilute the drug before administration. The drug should not be given as a bolus dose.

 
Search Site
Top Drug Searches
Viagra
Cialis
Levitra
Lipitor
Wellbutrin
Neurontin
Zoloft
Effexor
Paxil
Crestor
Celebrex
Zocor
Accupril
Top Drug Sites
Discount Online Pharmacy
Levitra
Fioricet Prescriptions

Discount Online Pharmacy
Over 1100 different drug products in stock...