Dobutamine

Dobutamine increases the force of contraction of the heart (inotrope). It helps the heart pump more effectively by stimulating the heart muscles. It will only be given to you when recommended by your doctor.

Dobutamine is helpful in the treatment of the following conditions:

• Sudden heart failure following surgeries.
• Congestive heart failure: a condition in which the heart pumps inefficiently, and fluid builds up in the heart, causing it to pump even more ineffectively.
• Cardiac shock where you heart is suddenly unable to pump enough blood around the body.
• It is also used in cardiac stress testing by doctors.

Dobutamine is a medicine that treats the symptoms of heart failure. It stimulates your heart muscles to pump better, leading to improved blood flow. Dobutamine is commonly used when other medicines have not been beneficial.

Dobutamine is a prescription-only medicine. Your healthcare provider will adjusted the required dosage according to patient’s responses, such as heart rate, blood pressure, urine flow, heart rhythm and the amount of blood that the heart pumps in 1 minute.

• Dobutamine is injected into a vein or soft part of the bone by a healthcare provider.
• Do not add more doses or intentionally skip a dose.
• If you take more of this medicine than prescribed for you, discontinue the drug and go to see your healthcare provider immediately.
• If you are using this drug at home and miss a dose, please contact your healthcare provider.
• Do not take more of this medicine than prescribed, and do not share the drug with others.

The following are unpleasant effects that you may experience while using dobutamine.

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Headaches and light-headedness.
• Leg cramps.

Tell your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you:

• Have an unusual awareness of your heartbeat or chest pain.
• Are suddenly unable to breathe.
• Have severe headaches, blurry vision and a buzzing sound in your ears.

The following are things that you should do and know if you have just received a prescription for dobutamine:

• You should mention to your healthcare provider if you have had an adverse reaction to it before.
• Use with care if you have had a heart attack or a heart rhythm disorder.
• This medicine may react with other drugs like nitroprusside.
• You have to monitor your blood pressure while using it to prevent complications of high blood pressure.
• Dobutamine may stop working if you have been using it for a long time.