Dobutamine is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for short-term use in patients with decreased contractility due to heart failure or cardiac procedures resulting in cardiac decompensation. Despite its ability to improve hemodynamics, dobutamine has not shown positive outcomes for heart failure patients in either the hospital or outpatient setting. Dobutamine is a direct-acting inotropic agent whose primary activity results from stimulation of the ß receptors of the heart while producing comparatively mild chronotropic, hypertensive, arrhythmogenic, and vasodilative effects. It does not cause the release of endogenous norepinephrine, as does dopamine. In animal studies, dobutamine produces less increase in heart rate and less decrease in peripheral vascular resistance for a given inotropic effect than does isoproterenol. In patients ... Dobutamine is a catecholamine drug used for inotropic support in adults with cardiac decompensation. Learn about its indications, dosage, side effects, interactions, warnings, and more from RxList. Medscape - Indication-specific dosing for ( dobutamine ), frequency-based adverse effects, comprehensive interactions, contraindications, pregnancy & lactation schedules, and cost information.
