Details

Dobutamine stimulates heart muscle and improves blood flow by helping the heart pump better. Dobutamine is used short-term to treat cardiac decompensation due to weakened heart muscle. Dobutamine is usually given after other heart medicines have been tried without success. To make sure dobutamine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure a heart valve disorder or asthma or sulphite allergy. While using dobutamine, you may need frequent medical tests. Your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (occasionally called an EKG).

Typical Uses

Dobutamine is a synthetic drug that stimulates receptors (beta-1 receptors) on the heart. It is classified as a catecholamine. Other catecholamines include epinephrine, dopamine, and isoproterenol. Stimulating beta-1 receptors receptor causes an increase in the force of the heart's contraction, therefore increasing cardiac output which is the amount of blood pumped by the heart. Unlike other catecholamines, dobutamine has minimal effects on heart rate, which helps to decrease the chance of irregular heartbeats. Dobutamine does not have significant effects on blood pressure.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of dobutamine include shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out wheezing, chest tightness dangerously high blood pressure-severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, uneven heartbeats, seizure or signs of infection in your catheter-pain, swelling, warmth, redness, oozing, or skin changes where the medicine is injected.

Drug Interactions

• Dobutamine+amitriptyline- Amitriptyline should not be used with dobutamine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.

• Dobutamine+amoxapine- Dobutamine should not be used with amoxapine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.

• Dobutamine+clomipramine- Dobutamine should not be used with clomipramine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.

• Dobutamine+desipramine- Desipramine should not be used with dobutamine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.

• Dobutamine+doxepin- Dobutamine should not be used with doxepin except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.

• Dobutamine+linezolid- Using dobutamine together with linezolid can increase your blood pressure. Contact your doctor if you experience increased side effects or if your condition changes. You may need a dose adjustment or need your blood pressure and heart rate checked more often if you use both medications.

Mechanism of action

Dobutamine belongs to a group of medicines called ionotropic agents that stimulate the beta-1 receptors in the heart. It strengthens the heart muscles, increases blood flow to the heart and improves the pumping of the heart.

Pregnancy Category : B