Dobutamine is a positive inotropic drug that acts directly on cardiac beta-1 receptors to increase myocardial contractility and enhance stroke volume, resulting in increased cardiac output and decreased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure within 1-2 minutes. Common adverse reactions include nausea, headache, respiratory distress, angina, palpitations, tachycardia, hypertension and ventricular ectopic beats. Dobutamine is contraindicated in atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias and phaeochromocytoma.

2. DOBUTAMINE
 Acts directly on heart muscle to increase the force
of myocardial contraction in response to the direct
stimulation of cardiac β1 adrenoceptors.
 Enhance stroke volume and hence an effective
positive inotropic effect.

3.  Progressive increase in cardiac output and
decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

4.  Onset of action is within 1-2 minutes
 Duration of action is approximately 10minutes
 Plasma half life is less than 3 minutes.

5. ADVERSE REACTIONS
 Nausea
 Headache
 Respiratory distress
 Angina
 Palpitations
 Tachycardia
 Hypertension
 Ventricular ectopic beats

6. CONTRAINDICATIONS
 Atrial fibrillation
 Ventricular arrhythmias
 Phaeochromocytoma

7. REFERENCE
KNIGHTS, K & KATHLEEN, B 2011, PHARMACOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
CHAPTER 12, ELSEVIER, CHATSWOOD, AUSTRALIA.