dobutamine

Dobutamine is a beta agonist. It acts on signaling proteins called beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart and blood vessels. When dobutamine attaches to these receptors, it lets your heart squeeze more and raises your heart rate. This keeps your blood pressure from dropping too low.

Dobutamine is given as an injection through the veins (intravenously or IV) by a healthcare provider in the hospital. This injection runs continuously, usually for no more than several hours. But your provider will determine how long you need dobutamine to keep your condition stable.

The dose of dobutamine varies from one person to another because it's based on your body weight and response to the medication. Some things that your care team looks at to see how you're responding to the medication include your blood pressure, heart rate, and other indicators of heart function. Hospitals typically have a specific program in place with steps that outline how to monitor and change the dose of dobutamine. This makes sure the medication works well and is as safe as possible for you.

Dobutamine is typically a well-tolerated medication and doesn't have a lot of side effects. Some possible side effects include changes in blood pressure (usually higher and rarely lower), irregular heart rate, and injection-site reactions (e.g., skin inflammation). Dobutamine contains a sulfite, which might cause serious and possibly life-threatening allergic reactions in some people.