dopamine (Intropin) Shock Drug: Side Effects, Uses, and Dosage

Is dopamine-injection available as a generic drug?

GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes

Do I need a prescription for dopamine-injection?

Yes

What are the uses for dopamine-injection?

• Dopamine is prescribed to correct hemodynamic status in
  patients with
  shock syndrome due to
  • heart attack (myocardial infarction),
  • trauma,
  • open-heart
    surgery,
  • renal failure,
  • congestive heart failure, and
  • other causes of shock
    syndrome.
• This means dopamine may be capable of improving urine flow,
  blood pressure, blood flow to vital organs, and improving heart function in
  patients with shock syndrome.

What are the side effects of dopamine-injection?

Common side effects of dopamine include

• disordered breathing,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• headache, and
• increased blood urea nitrogen.

Serious side effects of dopamine include

• abnormal heart rhythm,
• increased or decreased blood pressure,
• increased pressure in the eye, and
• gangrene in the extremities.

What is the dosage for dopamine-injection?

FOR ADULTS

Dopamine is given by intravenous (IV) infusion.

• Low dose: 1 to 5 mcg/kg/minute IV to increase urine output and kidney blood
  flow.
• Intermediate dose: 5 to 15 mcg/kg/minute IV to increase kidney blood flow,
  cardiac output and contractility, and heart rate.
• High dose: 20 to 50 mcg/kg/minute IV to increase blood pressure and stimulate
  vasoconstriction; may increase infusion by 1 to 4 mcg/kg/minute at 10 to 30
  minute intervals until desired response (for example, adequate blood pressure)
  is achieved.

Safe and effective use of dopamine is not established in children.

Which drugs or supplements interact with dopamine-injection?

• Dopamine should not be used in patients with
  pheochromocytoma and
  abnormal heart rate and rhythm.
• Dopamine should not be used with medications like
  selegiline (Eldepryl,
  Zelapar),
  linezolid (Zyvox), and
  MAIO inhibitors
  like phenelzine (Nardil),
  isocarboxazid (Marplan) due to increased risk of a
  hypertensive episode.
• Dopamine should not be used with
  tricyclic antidepressants (for example,
  amitriptyline
  [Elavil,
  Endep]) that increase dopamine and norepinephrine due to increased risk
  of hypertension and abnormal heart rate and rhythm.

Is dopamine-injection safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

• There are no adequate studies done on dopamine to determine its
  safe and effective use in
  pregnant women.
• It is not known whether dopamine enters
  breast milk;
  therefore, it is best to be cautious before using it in
  nursing mothers.

What else should I know about dopamine-injection?

What preparations of dopamine-injection are available?

• Additive solutions for IV infusion: 40, 80, 160 mg/ml.
• Infusion
  Solution: 80, 160, 320, mg/100 ml

How should I keep dopamine-injection stored?

Dopamine injections are stored at room temperature between 20 C to
25 C (68 F to 77 F).