Dobutamine: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

Dobutamine What Medicine?

What is dobutamine for?

Dobutamine is a liquid medicine that functions to treat heart failure due to surgery or weakening of the heart muscle. This drug will usually be put directly through a vein (intravenously)

The drug dobutamine works by stimulating the heart muscle and increasing blood flow.

Generally, dobutamine is used to increase systolic blood pressure. This drug will only be given to patients if other types of heart medication are unable to treat the condition.

Dobutamine can also be used for other treatments not described above. Before using it, consult your doctor.

This drug is a prescription drug that you cannot get over the counter without a doctor's prescription.

How is dobutamine used?

There are several ways you can inject dobutamine into your body.

Dobutamine is injected into a vein. Usually, a medical team will inject the drug into your body.
You will only be given dobutamine injections when you are in a hospital or clinic. This is done so that if serious side effects arise, these symptoms can be treated immediately.

While using this medicine, you should have regular medical tests. In addition, your heart should also be checked frequently using electrocardiography, a chart produced by a device called an electrocardiograph.

This tool serves to record all electrical activity contained in the heart within a certain time.

How is dobutamine stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature and kept away from direct light exposure. This medicine should also be kept away from damp places. Do not store this medication in the bathroom and do not freeze it in the freezer.

Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Pay attention to the storage instructions on the product packaging or ask your pharmacist if there is any explanation that you do not understand about how dobutamine is stored. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. We recommend that you consult your pharmacist about how to safely dispose of your product.

Dobutamine dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of dobutamine for adults?

Adult dosage for people with heart failure

The initial dose given to people with heart failure is 0.5-1 microgram / kilogram (mcg / kg) per minute. Usually the drug is inserted using an IV infusion to maintain a balance between blood pressure and the amount of urine excreted.

Then the next dose is as follows:

The maintenance dose is 2-20 mcg / kg / minute using IV infusion.
A dose of 40 mcg per kg per minute is sometimes necessary in very serious situations.
The maximum dose is 40 mcg / kg / min IV infusion.

Adult dosage for people with heart disease

The dose needed to improve cardiac performance usually ranges from 2.5 to 12 mcg / kg / minute.

The initial dose of use will be titrated as 2.5 mcg per kg per minute to maintain a balance between blood pressure and the amount of urine excreted.

A dose of 40 mcg per kg per minute is sometimes required in very serious situations.

What is the Dobutamine dosage for children?

Children's dosage for people with heart failure

The initial dose given to people with heart failure is 0.5-1 mcg / kg / minute using IV infusion to maintain a balance between blood pressure and the amount of urine excreted.

The maintenance dose is 2-20 mcg / kg / minute using IV infusion.

A dose of 40 mcg per kg per minute is sometimes necessary in very serious situations.

The maximum dose is 40 mcg / kg / min IV infusion.

However, the above doses may not be suitable for children weighing less than 30 kilograms.

In what dosage is Dobutamine available?

Dobutamine is available in the following dosages:

Generic: 1 milligram (mg) / milliliter (mL) (250 mL); 2 mg / mL (250 mL); 4 mg / mL (250 mL); 250 mg / 20 mL (20 mL); 500 mg / 40 mL (40 mL)

Intravenous, as hydrochloride

Generic: 250 mg / 20 mL (20 mL)

Dobutamine side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to dobutamine?

Each drug causes different side effects, some only cause a few side effects, some even do not cause side effects at all. The following are common side effects:

Headache
Nausea and vomiting
High fever
Leg cramps

Seek immediate medical help if you experience any of the following signs:

shortness of breath, swelling or drastic weight gain
chest pain, heart beats fast
The head feels floating, it feels like to pass out
chills, chest tightness
high blood pressure, serious headaches
blurred vision
ears buzzing
anxiety disorders and confusion
seizures
an infection in your catheter characterized by pain, swelling, redness, or a change in skin color when the medicine is injected
allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat

Not everyone experiences the side effects that have been mentioned. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Dobutamine Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using dobutamine?

Before using certain drugs, consider the risks and benefits first. This is a decision you and your doctor will have to make. To take this drug, pay attention to the following:

Tell your doctor if you have asthma, high blood pressure, and heart valve disease
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you have any unusual or allergic reactions to this drug or other drugs (such as atenolol, carteolol, esmolol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, sotalol, and timolol), bretylium, guanethidine).
Tell your doctor if you have any other types of allergies such as to food, coloring, preservatives, or animal allergies.

Is dobutamine safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.

These drugs are included in pregnancy risk category B according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

A = No risk,
B = not at risk in several studies,
C = May be risky,
D = There is positive evidence of risk,
X = Contraindicated,
N = Unknown

Meanwhile, in breastfeeding mothers, it is still uncertain whether dobutamine can be released through breast milk (ASI). Therefore, the use of this drug is also prone to increasing the risk of side effects in babies who accidentally take this drug.

It is preferable, for pregnant women and nursing mothers, not to use this medicine only if conditions are required to use this medicine and the benefits of using this medicine outweigh the possible risks.

Dobutamine Drug Interactions

What medicines might interact with dobutamine?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this article. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Although certain drugs should not be used at the same time, in certain cases, two different drugs can be used together, even if interactions are possible. In this case, your doctor may change the dose, or take other precautions that may be needed.

The following are the types of drugs that can interact with dobutamine. However, the risks from the interactions that occur outweigh the benefits that will be derived from the drugs. Among others are:

amitriptyline
amoxapine
clomipramine
cocaine nasal
topical cocaine
desipramine
doxepin
imipramine
linezolid
nortriptyline
protriptyline
trimipramine

Meanwhile, here are drugs that in some cases can increase the risk, but may be used simultaneously in some conditions. These drugs are as follows.

acarbose
acebutolol
albiglutide
albuterol
alogliptin
benzphetamine
betaxolol
betaxolol ophthalmic
bisoprolol
bitolterol
canagliflozin
carteolol
ophthalmic carteolol
carvedilol
chlorpropamide
cimetidine
dapagliflozin
deserpidine
desvenlafaxine
diatrizoate
diethylpropion
empagliflozin
entacapone
ertugliflozin
esmolol
exenatide
formoterol
furazolidone

Can food or alcohol interact with dobutamine?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur.

Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider for more details.

What health conditions can interact with dobutamine?

Other health conditions you have can interact with this drug and any interactions that occur may affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have any other health problems, especially the following health conditions:

Heart valve problems
Tumor of the adrenal gland
Fast heart beat (tachyarrhythmia)
The left ventricle of the heart is enlarged due to narrowing of the blood vessels

Dobutamine overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, immediately contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.

Symptoms of an overdose that may occur as a result of using this drug excessively or not according to the instructions include: