| Table 8: | |||
|
Intravenous
Agents Used in Heart Failure
|
|||
|
Drug
|
Dose
|
Special
Considerations |
|
|
dobutamine
|
2-20 mcg/kg/min | beta
receptor agonist pro-arrhythmic; ↑ HR; ↑ischemia. |
|
|
milrinone
|
0.375-0.75 mcg/kg/min | phosphodiesterase
inhibitor; vasodilator; may improve pulmonary hypertension; used in patients taking beta-blockers; pro-arrhythmic. |
|
|
nitroglycerin
|
10-500 mcg/min | anti-ischemic, vasodilator; limited by vascular headache; hypotension; tolerance develops rapidly | |
|
nitroprusside
|
10-500 mcg/min |
thiocyanate
accumulation in renal failure;
may provoke ischemia by coronary steal; vasodilator; ICU only |
|
|
nesiritide
|
2
mcg/kg bolus then 0.01 mcg/kg/min |
fixed
weight-based dose; vasodilator; occasional hypotension |
|
|
Copyright
2003 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
|