Dobutamine stimulates heart muscle and improves blood flow by helping the heart pump better.

Dobutamine is used short-term to treat cardiac decompensation due to weakened heart muscle.

Dobutamine is usually given after other heart medicines have been tried without success.

Dobutamine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely while you are receiving dobutamine.

Dobutamine is injected into a vein through a catheter. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

You will receive dobutamine in a hospital or clinic setting to quickly treat any serious side effects that occur.

While using dobutamine, you may need frequent medical tests. Your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).

Usual Adult Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:

Initial dose: 0.5 to 1 mcg/kg/min IV infusion
Maintenance dose: 2 to 20 mcg/kg/min IV infusion
Maximum dose: 40 mcg/kg/min IV infusion

Comments:
-Rate of administration and duration of therapy should be based on blood pressure, heart rate, frequency of ectopic activity, and urine flow; cardiac output, central venous pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure should also be considered whenever possible.
-Concentrations up to 5000 mcg/mL have been administered to humans. Determine final volume based on fluid requirements of the patient.
-No controlled-trial experience exists beyond 48 hours of repeated boluses and/or continuous infusions.

Use: Inotropic support when parenteral therapy is needed in the short-term treatment of patients with cardiac decompensation due to depressed contractility resulting from organic heart disease or cardiac surgical procedures.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:

Initial dose: 0.5 to 1 mcg/kg/min IV infusion
Maintenance dose: 2 to 20 mcg/kg/min IV infusion
Maximum dose: 40 mcg/kg/min IV infusion

Comments:
-Certain container systems of this drug may be inappropriate for the dosage requirements of pediatric patients less than 30 kg.
-Rate of administration and duration of therapy should be based on systemic blood pressure, heart rate, frequency of ectopic activity urine flow; cardiac output, central venous pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure should also be considered whenever possible.
-Concentrations up to 5000 mcg/mL have been administered to humans. Determine final volume based on fluid requirements of the patient.
-No controlled-trial experience exists beyond 48 hours of repeated boluses and/or continuous infusions.

Use: Inotropic support when parenteral therapy is needed in the short-term treatment of patients with cardiac decompensation due to depressed contractility resulting from organic heart disease or cardiac surgical procedures.

You should not use dobutamine if you are allergic to it.

To make sure dobutamine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• high blood pressure;

• a heart valve disorder; or

• asthma or sulfite allergy.

FDA pregnancy category B. Dobutamine is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether dobutamine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

If you are using the medicine at home, call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of dobutamine.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregiver right away if you have:

• shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;

• chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats;

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

• wheezing, chest tightness;

• dangerously high blood pressure-severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, uneven heartbeats, seizure; or

• signs of infection in your catheter--pain, swelling, warmth, redness, oozing, or skin changes where the medicine is injected.

Common side effects of dobutamine may include:

• nausea, vomiting;

• fever, tingly feeling;

• headache; or

• leg cramps.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Other drugs may interact with dobutamine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.