Dobutamine

Dobutamine is a prescription medication indicated for cardiac decompensation.

• Dobutamine is available under the following different brand names: Dobutrex.

Common side effects of Dobutamine include:

• Increased heart rate,
• Increased blood pressure,
• Ventricular ectopic activity,
• Nervousness,
• Headache,
• Nausea,
• Vomiting,
• Palpitations,
• Low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), and
• Swelling at the injection site

Serious side effects of Dobutamine include:

• Low blood pressure,
• Chest pain (angina),
• Fast or slow heartbeat,
• Shortness of breath, and
• Trouble breathing

Rare side effects of Dobutamine include:

• None 

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Infusion solution, in D5W

• 100 mg/100 mL
• 200 mg/100 mL
• 400 mg/100 mL

Injectable solution

• 12.5 mg/mL

Cardiac Decompensation

Adult and pediatric dosage

• 0.5-1 mcg/kg/min intravenous continuous infusion initially, then 2-20 mcg/kg/min; not to exceed 40 mcg/kg/min.

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Dobutamine has severe interactions with the following drugs:
  • isocarboxazid
  • linezolid
  • phenelzine
  • selegiline transdermal
  • tranylcypromine
• Dobutamine has serious interactions with at least 27 other drugs.
• Dobutamine has moderate interactions with at least 243 other drugs.
• Dobutamine has minor interactions with the following drugs:
  • bendroflumethiazide
  • bumetanide
  • chlorothiazide
  • chlorthalidone
  • cyclopenthiazide
  • desmopressin
  • ethacrynic acid
  • eucalyptus
  • furosemide
  • hydrochlorothiazide
  • indapamide
  • methyclothiazide
  • metolazone
  • noni juice
  • sage
  • torsemide

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, health questions, or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to drugs or components
• Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dobutamine?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dobutamine?”

Cautions

• To optimize hemodynamics, correct hypovolemia if needed
• Clinical experience with dobutamine following myocardial infarction has been insufficient to establish the safety of the drug for this use; there is concern that any agent that increases contractile force and heart rate may increase the size of infarction by intensifying ischemia, but not known whether dobutamine does so.
• Severe coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Hypertension is common; hypotension may also occur.
• May cause a marked increase in heart rate or blood pressure, especially systolic pressure; because dobutamine facilitates atrioventricular conduction, patients with atrial fibrillation are at risk of developing rapid ventricular response; in patients who have atrial fibrillation with the rapid ventricular response, a digitalis preparation should be used before the institution of therapy with dobutamine; patients with pre-existing hypertension appear to face an increased risk of developing an exaggerated pressure response
• During the administration of dobutamine, monitor blood pressure continuously; pulmonary wedge pressure and cardiac output should be monitored whenever possible to aid safe and effective infusion of dobutamine in 5% dextrose Injection, USP
• Ventricular ectopy exacerbation may occur.

Pregnancy and Lactation

• May be acceptable during pregnancy.
• Lactation
  • Unknown whether a drug is excreted into breast milk; avoid use.