Dopamine
Cunoscută și ca: Intropin
Dopamine is a critical care medication used exclusively in a hospital setting, typically in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). * **Purpose**: It is used to support your pet's blood pressure, heart function, and organ blood flow during life-threatening conditions like severe shock or heart failure. * **Administration**: It is given as a continuous intravenous (IV) drip using a specialized pump to ensure exact dosing. * **Monitoring**: While on this medication, your pet will be closely monitored by the veterinary team, including continuous heart rate, ECG, and blood pressure checks. * **Safety**: The veterinary team will frequently check the IV catheter, as this medication can cause tissue damage if it leaks outside the vein.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
Veterinary professional? See the full dosing-by-species reference on VetSheet →
What it is used for
- Vasodilatory shock if fluid resuscitation and dobutamine is not successful
- Treatment of severe hypotension/shock
- Treatment of severe hypotension/shock after fluid correction and if dobutamine does not give desired effect
- Vasodilatory shock if fluid resuscitation and dobutamine is not successful
- Adjunctive therapy for acute heart failure
- Treatment of severe hypotension/shock
- Treatment of severe hypotension/shock after fluid correction and if dobutamine does not give desired effect
- Adjunctive therapy for oliguric renal failure
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Nausea and vomiting
- Ectopic beats (arrhythmias)
- Tachycardia
- Palpitations
- Hypotension (at low doses) or Hypertension (at high doses)
- Dyspnea
- Vasoconstriction (reduced peripheral circulation)
- Severe tissue necrosis and sloughing (if extravasated)
Cautions & contraindications
- Pheochromocytoma
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Uncorrected tachyarrhythmias
- Uncorrected hypovolemia (must replace fluids first)
- ### Critical Warnings * **Extravasation Risk**: Extravasation can cause severe ischemic tissue necrosis and sloughing. Monitor IV sites continuously. If extravasation occurs, infiltrate the ischemic area with 5-10 mg **phentolamine** diluted in 10-15 mL of normal saline using a fine needle with multiple subcutaneous injections. * **Hypovolemia**: Dopamine is *not* a substitute for adequate fluid, electrolyte, or blood product replacement. Volume deficits must be corrected prior to use. * **Cardiovascular Disease**: Use with extreme caution in patients with ischemic heart disease or occlusive vascular disease. Discontinue or reduce dose if arrhythmias (e.g., PVCs) occur or if signs of reduced peripheral circulation develop. * **Feline Renal Failure**: Cats are unlikely to benefit from low-dose dopamine for oliguric renal failure, and it may be detrimental.
Drug interactions
- Alpha-adrenergic blockers (e.g., prazosin): May antagonize the vasoconstrictive properties of high-dose dopamine.
- Halogenated hydrocarbon anesthetics (e.g., halothane): May result in increased incidences of ventricular arrhythmias.
- Tricyclic antidepressants: May potentiate adverse cardiovascular effects.
- Beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol, metoprolol): May antagonize the cardiac (inotropic/chronotropic) effects of dopamine.
- Diuretics: May potentiate urine production effects of low-dose dopamine.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): Can significantly prolong and enhance the effects of dopamine.
- Oxytocic drugs: May cause severe hypertension when used concurrently.
- Phenothiazines: May antagonize the renal and mesenteric vasodilatation effects of dopamine.
- Vasopressors/Vasoconstrictors: Concurrent use may cause severe hypertension.
Întrebări frecvente
What is Dopamine used for in pets?
Dopamine is a critical care medication used exclusively in a hospital setting, typically in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). • Purpose: It is used to support your pet's blood pressure, heart function, and organ blood flow during life-threatening conditions like severe shock or heart failure. • Administration: It is given as a continuous intravenous (IV) drip using a specialized pump to ensure exact dosing. • Monitoring: While on this medication, your pet will be closely monitored by the veterinary team, including continuous heart rate, ECG, and blood pressure checks. • Safety: The veterinary team will frequently check the IV catheter, as this medication can cause tissue damage if it leaks outside the vein.
Is Dopamine safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
Acest articol este educație generală și nu înlocuiește sfatul veterinar. Dacă animalul e bolnav, consultați un veterinar.
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