✅ Generic Name:
Dobutamine Injection USP 50 mg/mL
✅ Brand Names (examples):
Dobutrex®, Dobucor®, Dobujet®, etc.
📄 Description:
Dobutamine Injection is a potent intravenous inotropic agent used primarily in acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock. It acts by stimulating beta-1 adrenergic receptors, enhancing heart muscle contractility and improving cardiac output without significantly increasing heart rate or blood pressure.
- Each mL contains 50 mg of dobutamine hydrochloride
- Usually supplied in concentrated form (must be diluted before administration)
🌿 Nature / Drug Class:
- Therapeutic Class: Inotropic Agent
- Pharmacologic Class: Sympathomimetic amine
- Mechanism of Action:
- Direct stimulation of β₁-receptors → increases myocardial contractility
- Mild β₂ and α₁ effects (causing mild vasodilation or vasoconstriction)
- Increases cardiac output with minimal increase in heart rate
🎯 Purpose / Indications:
- Acute decompensated heart failure
- Cardiogenic shock
- Severe hypotension with low cardiac output
- Short-term inotropic support post-cardiac surgery
- Diagnostic use during stress echocardiography (dobutamine stress test)
✅ Advantages:
- Rapid onset (1–2 minutes IV)
- Short half-life (2 minutes) – easy to titrate
- Increases cardiac output without major changes in systemic vascular resistance
- No need for a loading dose
- Ideal for critically ill patients requiring real-time adjustment
💉 Dosage & Administration:
- Route: Intravenous (IV infusion only)
- Dilution Required: Must be diluted in compatible IV fluids like Dextrose 5%, Normal Saline
- Infusion concentration: Commonly 250 mg in 250 mL (1 mg/mL)
- Initial dose: 2–5 mcg/kg/min
- Maintenance: Up to 20 mcg/kg/min (some go higher under monitoring)
📦 Common Packaging:
- Supplied in 5 mL or 10 mL ampoules or vials
- Each mL contains 50 mg of dobutamine hydrochloride
- Also available in premixed infusion bags (in some countries)
- Needs dilution before IV infusion
❄️ Storage Conditions:
- Store at 20–25°C (68–77°F)
- Protect from light and freezing
- Use diluted solution within 24 hours
- Check for discoloration or precipitation before use
👨⚕️ Patient Advice / Precautions:
- Administered only in hospital settings (ICU, CCU)
- Continuous cardiac monitoring (ECG) required
- Monitor blood pressure, heart rate, urine output, and electrolytes
- Not for intramuscular or subcutaneous use