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This medicine is used in the treatment of adults with cardiac decompensation due to depressed contractility resulting from organic heart disease or following cardiac surgical procedures in which parenteral therapy is necessary for inotropic support.

Action And Clinical Pharmacology
Dobutamine is a direct-acting inotropic agent whose primary activity results from stimulation of the b-receptors of the heart while producing less marked chronotropic, hypertensive, arrhythmogenic or vasodilatory effects. Dobutamine, unlike dopamine, does not cause the release of endogenous norepinephrine. No specific effect on the renal vasculature was observed. Dobutamine produces less increase in heart rate and less decrease in peripheral vascular resistance for a given inotropic effect than does isoproterenol as demonstrated in both animal and human studies.
The onset of action occurs within 1 to 2 minutes while the peak effect of a particular infusion may not be reached for 10 minutes. The plasma half-life in humans is 2 minutes.

Contra-Indications
Patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, in patients with pheochromocytoma, and in those patients with hypersensitivity to dobutamine. tag_WarningWarnings

Manufacturers' Warnings In Clinical States
Dobutamine may cause a marked increase in blood pressure, especially systolic pressure or in heart rate. About 10% of patients in clinical studies have had rate increases of 30 beats/minute or more, while about 7.5% have had a 50 mmHg or greater increase in systolic pressure. There appears to be an increased risk in patients with pre-existing hypertension of developing an exaggerated pressor response. A reduction of dosage usually results in a prompt reversal of these effects.