A drug used to stimulate the heart.
A cardiac stimulant drug of the inotropic sympathomimetic group, dobutamine acts on sympathetic receptors in cardiac muscle, increasing the contractility and hence improving the cardiac output, but with little effect on the cardiac rate. It is particularly useful in cardiogenic shock, and must be given by intravenous infusion.
This is a medication employed for managing heart failure and shock, and occasionally it’s used following a cardiac arrest, which is a cessation of the heart’s pumping activity. This drug can be administered via an intravenous drip.
Dobutamine acts on nerve cells within the heart, causing a rise in both the heart rate and blood pressure. Because of these effects, the medication is often utilized in cardiac stress tests. This is particularly helpful in investigating possible coronary artery disease, especially when the patient is unable to perform physical exercise such as treadmill running.