Introduction

Name

• Dobutamine.

Class of drug

• Synthetic cardioactive sympathomimetic amine.
• Principally a beta-1 adrenoceptor agonist with lesser degrees of alpha-1 and beta-2 agonist effects.
• Weaker beta-2 agonist than isoproterenol.
• Much weaker alpha-1 agonist than norepinephrine (noradrenaline) or dopamine Dopamine.

Description

Chemical name

• (+/-)-4-[2-[[3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylpropyl]amino]ethyl]-1,2-benzenediol.
• (+/-)-4-[2-[[3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylpropyl]amino]ethyl]pyrocatechol.

Molecular formula

• C18H23NO3.

Storage requirements

• Reconstituted IV solution is stable for 24 hours although a slight color change (pale pink) may occur during this period.

Uses

Indications

• Short-term support for cardiac failure Heart: congestive heart failure due to decreased contractility, eg dilated cardiomyopathy Heart: dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
• Septic Shock: septic and cardiogenic shock.
• Renal failure Kidney: acute kidney injury (AKI).

Administration

Pharmacokinetics

Precautions

Interactions

with other drugs

Beta-blockers, eg propranolol

• Dobutamine may be ineffective if beta-blockers Propranolol have recently been given.

Nitroprusside and dopamine

• A synergistic effect on the improvement of cardiac output has been recorded with nitroprusside Nitroprusside and low dose dopamine Dopamine
  Do not mix in the administration line with alkaline solutions (heparin, hydrocortisone, sodium succinate, cefazolin, penicillin).

Adverse Reactions

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Ramsey I (2017) BSAVA Small Animal Formulary. 9th edn.
• Small Animal Formulary. Bryn Tennant (1999) 3rd edn. Cheltenham: BSAVA.
• Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Manual. Karol A Mathews (1996) Lifelearn Inc.
• Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialities. 13th Ed (1995), Ed in Chief Carmen M E Krogh.
• Current Cardiovascular Drugs. (1994) WH Frishman, C T Dollery & J M Cruickshank. Current Medicine.
• Heart Disease. A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. (1992) Ed Eugene Braunwald. W B Saunders, Philadelphia.