Vascular and heart problems are most common in older people. But often such diseases occur in quite young patients. To improve the patient's condition, doctors very often prescribe cardiotonic drugs. One of them is the drug "Dobutamine." Instructions for use, release form, analogs and properties of the mentioned drugs are presented below.
Composition, packaging, form of the drug
The drug "Dobutamine", the instructions for use of which is contained in a pack of thick paper, contains such a substance as dobutamine hydrochloride, and various auxiliary elements.
On sale, this drug comes in the form of a colorless or slightly yellowish clear solution for infusion, which is placed in glass ampoules.
Also, this medicine can be purchased in the form of a lyophilisate and concentrate for the preparation of a solution.
Pharmacodynamic properties of the injection solution
What is Dobutamine Medication? Instructions for use (in ampoules this medicine can be purchased at any pharmacy) states that it is a cardiotonic drug, synthetic catecholamine and beta-1-adrenergic agonist.
This medication is able to stimulate beta-1-adrenergic receptors of the myocardium, enhancing its contractility. It also increases the minute and stroke volumes of the heart and reduces the arterial hypertension.
After applying the medication in question, a moderate increase in heart rate is caused. The chronotropic effect of the drug, as well as its positive dromotropic effect, manifests itself when using higher dosages.
In medium doses, this medication has a weak effect on blood pressure. Due to the fact that it has a rather short half-life, it should be administered continuously. But it must be borne in mind that continuous therapy with this drug for 72 hours or more promotes addiction.
Use the drug "Dobutamine", the instructions for use of which are described below, it is necessary with the simultaneous monitoring of ECG, heart rate and blood pressure.
Kinetic indicators of the drug
How long does the Dobutamine drug start to work? Instructions for use (tablets - the drug has no such form) reports that after intravenous infusion the effect of this medication is observed after 2 minutes. Its stable plasma concentration is reached after another ΒΌ hours.
The half-life of the drug is 2-5 minutes.
Indications for use of the solution
Do you know when the Dobutamine drug is prescribed? Instructions for use inform about the following indications:
- acute heart failure;
- pulmonary edema;
- decompensation of heart failure (as a temporary auxiliary);
- reduced cardiac output;
- conducting stress echocardiography (for diagnosis).
Contraindications
In what cases do not prescribe such a cardiotonic drug as "Dobutamine"? Instructions for use (medication analogues are listed below) reports the following contraindications:
- mechanical obstruction of the outflow or filling of blood from the ventricles of the heart (for example, obstructive cardiomyopathy, aortic stenosis, severe cardiac tamponade) ;
- hypersensitivity to the main ingredient;
- hypovolemia;
- taking MAO inhibitors.
The drug "Dobutamine": instructions for use
In newborns, this medicine is used for special indications. The same applies to young children.
Just like the analogues of this drug, Dobutamine is intended only for intravenous administration. At the same time, it is pre-diluted with Ringer's solutions, 5% glucose or sodium chloride.
The finished medication is stored for no more than a day. The speed and duration of its administration depend on hemodynamic parameters. In this regard, the condition of the patient requires regular monitoring. It is necessary to monitor the heart rate, the value of blood pressure, as well as the cardiac output (if possible).
So at what dosage is Dobutamine Hexal prescribed? The instructions for use report that for adults this drug is administered in an amount of 2.5-10 mcg / kg / min (in rare cases, 40 mcg / kg / min.). As for children, they are prescribed the drug at a dose of 1-15 ΞΌg / kg / min.
Side effects with the use of the drug
What negative reactions can the drug "Dobutamine" cause? Instructions for use indicate the possible occurrence of the following effects:
- itchy skin, angina attacks;
- bronchospasm;
- rash, palpitations;
- tachycardia, chills;
- phlebitis at the injection site;
- heart rhythm disturbance (ventricular fibrillation, extrasystole);
- increased systolic blood pressure;
- nausea, headaches.
All adverse reactions from the vessels and heart depend on the dosage used. As a rule, they disappear after the termination of the infusion or when its speed decreases.
Price and similar medicines
How much does Dobutamine Hexal cost? Instructions for use do not provide an answer to this question. In pharmacies, the price of this drug can be about 350-450 rubles.
What should replace the medicine in question? Its analogues are the following drugs: Dobujekt, Dobutamine Solway, Dobutamine Giulini, Dobutrex, Dobutamine Lahema, Dobutamine Nycomed.
Reviews of specialists about the drug
There are no consumer reviews for the drug in question. This is due to the fact that such cardiotonic agents are used only in urgent situations (for example, in acute heart failure, if the cardiac index falls and the contractility of the left ventricle decreases). Typically, this condition is observed with cardiomyopathy, septic shock, myocardial infarction and open heart surgery.
According to experts, the medication in question is the basis of pharmacological treatment of cardiogenic shock. It is not used to treat chronic heart failure.
Due to the fact that this medication can cause arrhythmia and tachycardia, it should be used for a short period of time and only in severe cases, that is, with acute heart failure.
It should also be noted that this drug has a relatively small range between toxic effects and therapeutic doses.
Unlike the drug "Dopamine", it never causes vasodilation.