Effectiveness of Dopamine & Its Side Effects

Before taking dopamine it is advisable to inform your doctor whether you are diagnosed with adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma) and other conditions such as sulfite allergy, diabetes, hardened arteries, circulation problem, frostbite buergers disease, asthma or whether you have ever had blood clots.

Dopamine is a medication which is more like a substance that occurs in the body naturally. Dopamine effectively helps in improving the blood flow from the heart to the kidney and also strengthens the pumping of the heart to ensure easy flow of the blood through the body.

Intropin, which is a dopamine injection is used to effectively treat low pressure caused by shock and also can be caused by surgery, kidney failure, heart failure, heart attack and many more various conditions.

It is also important to disclose whether you have been prescribed any medication in the past 21 days especially MAO inhibitor like phenelzine, Selegiline, furazolidone or tranylcrypromine, rasagiline, isocarboxazid.

In case it is an emergency and there is no time to explain all of the above mentioned, it is good to let your doctor know afterwards. If a woman is pregnant or breast feeding she should tell the doctor about it immediately.

Before receiving dopamine injection (intropin) one should inform the doctor whether he or she has adrenal gland cancer. It is also relevant to let the doctor note whether you have following condition before injected with dopamine:

• Diabetes
• Frostbite
• Asthma
• Any history of blood clot
• Frostbite
• Sulfite allergy.

It is also relevant to say whether you have ever used MAO inhibitor in the last 21 days like tranylcypromine (Parnate), salegiline (Zelapar, Emsam, Elderpryl), Phenelzine (Nardil) Isocarboxazid (Marplan) or Furazolidone (furoxone).

Dopamine is given in a hospital or in a clinic. It is injected through an IV into a vein. After the dopamine injection is done inform your doctor whether there is swelling, pain or burning around the IV needle. While receiving dopamine the doctor should check your vitals such as blood pressure, kidney function, oxygen level and whether you are breathing normally.

To ensure that dopamine is working and it is not causing any complication or affects your kidney function and blood cells should be tested more often. It is important to attend all appointments for a follow up for urine and blood test.

Usual dosage of dopamine: 1-5mcg/kilogram per minute using IV infusion continuously.

A doctor may titrate up to the response of the patient.

Administration rates: more than 50 mcg/kilogram per every minute is applied in very serious situations.

Initial dose 1 to 5 mcg/kg/min using IV infusion continuously

Titration up to the response of the patient.

Administration at rates more than 50mcg per min is used in serious situation.

Less than 1 month: 1 to 20 mcg/kg/min using IV infusion continuously and should be titrated up to the response of the patient.

1 month or more: 1 to 20mcg/kg/min using IV infusion continuously, the dose should be titrated up to the response of the patient. Not more than of 50mcg/kg/min.

There are hemodynamic effects caused by dopamine which occur due to the following situations:

• Low dosage: 1 to 5mcg/kg/min may urine output and renal blood flow.
• Intermediate dose: 5 to 15 mcg/kg/min it increases blood pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, cardiac contractility and renal blood flow.
• High dose: more than 15mcg/kg/min brings about alpha-adrenergic effects which begin to vasoconstriction, predominate and increase blood pressure.

Less than 1 month: 1 to 20 mcg/kg/minute using IV infusion continuously, titration can be done to desired response.

1 month or more: 1 to 20 mcg/kg/minute using IV infusion continuously, titration May be done to desired response and not more than 50 mcg/kg/minute.

Hemodynamic effects of dopamine occur according to the dose taken:

• Low dosage: 1 to 5 mcg/kg/minute, increases urine output and renal blood flow.
• Intermediate dosage: 5 to 15 mcg/kg/min, increases blood pressure, cardiac output, cardiac contractility, heart rate and renal blood flow
• High dose: more than 15 mcg/kg/min brings about alpha- adrenergic effects that causes high blood pressure, vasoconstriction and predominate.

Some people may show some allergic reaction after using dopamine. You should immediately visit your doctor in case the following reaction may occur: swelling of the face, lips, tongue and throat, difficult breathing and hives.

The following are some side effects pf dopamine that needs emergency medical:

• Feeling pain, burning or even swelling around the IV needle is a side effect of dopamine;
• Having weak or shallow breathing;
• Feeling confused, urinating less or not at all and swelling at the ankles and feet;
• Feeling like you may pass out even when resting;
• Having blood in your urine;
• Pain and difficulties while urinating;
• Chest pain;
• Slow, fast or pounding heartbeats;
• Numbness, cold feeling or blue color on your hands and feet, darkening or changes on your skin color.

There are less serious side effects after using dopamine which includes:

• Nausea, vomiting, chills or goose bumps
• Headache
• Feeling anxious.