What is Dopamine
Dopamine is a type of medicine made from a substance found naturally in the human body. It helps improve the efficiency of pumping in the heart and increases the flow of blood to the kidneys. Dopamine injection (Intropin) is used to treat certain ailments that occur when you're experiencing shock. This can result from cardiac arrest, trauma, surgery, heart failure, kidney failure, and various other serious medical conditions. Dopamine can also be employed for other purposes that are not covered in this guideline for medication.
Warnings
Inform your healthcare providers whether you have aortic calcification or circulation issues, diabetes, frostbite, Buerger's asthma, sulfite allergy, or the presence of blood clots in your history. Inform your physician about the prescription and over-the-counter medicines you take, particularly when you've used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 21 days. In an emergency, it is not always possible to inform your healthcare providers about any health issues. Be sure that any physician caring for you in the future knows that you've received this medication.
Before you take this drug
It is not recommended to treat dopamine deficiency if you suffer from pheochromocytoma (a tumor that is located in your adrenal gland). If it is possible, prior to receiving dopamine, let your doctor know whether you've ever:
- A heart rhythm disorder.
- Coronary arterial condition (clogging the arteries).
- A blood clot.
- An allergy to food items or medications.
- Asthma or sulfite allergy.
- Metabolic acidosis.
- Diabetes.
- Issues with circulation, such as Raynaud's disease.
- Frostbite.
- Buerger disease.
- If you've used an MAO inhibitor within the past two weeks (such as isocarboxazid or linezolid, blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or any other).
In a situation of emergency, it might not be possible to inform your caregivers that you are nursing or pregnant. It is important that the doctor caring for your pregnancy or baby be aware that you've received this medication.
How to take Dopamine Injections
Dopamine can be injected into veins via an IV. Your healthcare provider will provide the injection. Contact your physician. If you experience the sensation of burning or pain as well as swelling of the needle during the injection of dopamine, Your blood pressure, breathing levels, kidney function, and oxygen levels, as well as other vital indicators, will be closely monitored during the time you receive dopamine injections.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Dopamine injections are administered by a doctor in a medical environment, so it is unlikely that you will not take the dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Because this medication is administered by a health expert in a medical environment, it is highly unlikely for an overdose to occur.
What should be avoided?
Follow your doctor's advice regarding any limitations on foods, drinks, or any activity.
Side effects of Dopamine Injection
See a doctor immediately in the event that you exhibit symptoms that are warning signs of an allergic reaction or reaction with dopamine, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your lips, face, or tongue.
Inform your caregivers immediately. If you suffer from:
- Feeling lightheaded, as if you're about to feel like you're going to pass out (even in bed).
- Chest pain.
- Speedy, slow, or heartbeats that pound.
- Breathing shortness.
- Numbness, a cold sensation, or a blue-colored appearance to your feet or hands.
- Skin tone changes or darkening in your feet or hands.
Common dopamine side effects include:
- Headache.
- Experiencing anxiety.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Goosebumps and chills.
This isn't a complete list of all the side effects. Other effects may also be present. Contact your doctor for medical advice on the consequences. You can report symptoms to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Details on dosage
Adult Dopamine Dose for Nonobstructive Oliguria:
Initial dose: 1–5 mg/kg/min in a continuously administered IV injection.
Titrate until you get the desired level of response. The administration of more than 50 mg per kilogram per minute is used without risk in severe situations.
Usual Adult Dose of Dopamine for Shock: Initial dose: 1–5 mg/kg/min with constant IV infusion
Titrate according to the desired level of response. Dosage rates of greater than 50 mg per kilogram per minute are used without risk in severe situations.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Nonobstructive Oliguria: less than one month less than 1 month: 1 to 20 mg/kg/min via continuous IV infusion, gradually increasing to achieve the desired level of response.
1 month and older 1 month or older: 1 to 20 mg/kg/min through continuous IV infusions, gradually increasing to achieve the desired level of response. Maximum of 50 mg/kg/min.
The effects of dopamine on hemodynamics are dependent on the dose.
Low dose 1 to 5 mcg/kg/minute Increased renal blood flow and output of urine
Intermediate dosage: 5 to 15 mg/kg/minute increases renal blood flow, heart rate, cardiac output, cardiac contractility, and blood pressure.
High dose: more than 15 mcg/kg/minute. Alpha-adrenergic effects begin to take over vasoconstriction and blood pressure.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Shock: less than one month via continuous IV infusion adjusted to the desired level of response.
1 month and older 1 month and older: 1 to 20 mcg/kg/min through continuous IV infusions, adjusted to the desired level of response. Maximum of 50 mg/kg/min.
Dopamine's hemodynamic effects depend on the dose.
Low dose 1 to 5 mg/kg/minute Increased renal blood flow and output of urine
Intermediate dosage 5 to 15 mcg/kg/minute, increasing renal blood flow as well as heart rate and cardiac contractility, the output of the heart, and blood pressure.
The highest dose is greater than 15 mg/kg/minute. Alpha-adrenergic effects start to dominate vasoconstriction and blood pressure.
Interaction with other drugs
Other medications may be incompatible with dopamine, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines as well as vitamins or natural products. Discuss with your physician all the medicines you are currently taking as well as any medications you are about to start or stop taking.
