Dopamine and Dextrose

Rate of Administration

Dopamine Hydrochloride and 5% Dextrose Injection, USP is administered intravenously through a suitable intravenous catheter or needle. An IV drip chamber or other suitable metering device is essential for controlling the rate of flow in drops/minute. Each patient must be individually titrated to the desired hemodynamic and/or renal response with dopamine hydrochloride. In titrating to the desired increase in systolic blood pressure, the optimum dosage rate for renal response may be exceeded, thus necessitating a reduction in rate after the hemodynamic condition is stabilized.

Administration of dopamine hydrochloride at rates greater than 50 mcg/kg/min has safely been used in advanced circulatory decompensation states. If unnecessary fluid expansion is of concern, use of a more concentrated solution may be preferred over increasing the flow rate of a less concentrated solution.

Suggested Regimen

1. When appropriate, increase blood volume with whole blood, plasma, or plasma expanders until central venous pressure is 10 to 15 cm H2O or pulmonary wedge pressure is 14 to 18 mm Hg. 2. Begin infusion of Dopamine Hydrochloride and 5% Dextrose Injection, USP at doses of 2 to 5 mcg/kg/min in patients who are likely to respond to modest increments of heart force and renal perfusion.
In more seriously ill patients, begin administration of Dopamine Hydrochloride and 5% Dextrose Injection, USP at rates of 5 mcg/kg/min and increase gradually using 5 to 10 mcg/kg/min increments up to a rate of 20 to 50 mcg/kg/min as needed. If rates in excess of 50 mcg/kg/min are required, it is suggested that urine output be checked frequently. Should urine flow begin to decrease in the absence of hypotension, reduction of dopamine hydrochloride dosage should be considered. Reports have shown that more than 50% of the patients were satisfactorily maintained on doses of dopamine hydrochloride administered at rates of less than 20 mcg/kg/min. In patients who do not respond to these doses with adequate arterial pressures or urine flow, additional increments of dopamine hydrochloride may be given in an effort to produce an appropriate arterial pressure and central perfusion. 3. Treatment of all patients requires constant evaluation of therapy in terms of blood volume, augmentation of myocardial contractility and distribution of peripheral perfusion. Dosage of dopamine hydrochloride should be adjusted according to the patient’s response, with particular attention to diminution of established urine flow rate, increasing tachycardia or development of new dysrhythmias as indices for decreasing or temporarily suspending the dosage. 4. As with all potent intravenously administered drugs, care should be taken to control the rate of administration so as to avoid inadvertent administration of a bolus of drug.

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.

Do not use Dopamine Hydrochloride and 5% Dextrose Injection, USP if darker than slightly yellow or discolored in any other way.

All injections in VIAFLEX Plus plastic containers are intended for intravenous administration using sterile equipment.

Drug additives should not be made to Dopamine Hydrochloride and 5% Dextrose Injection, USP.

Pediatric Dosing and Administration

In publications, the most common starting doses were 1-5 micrograms/kilograms/minute. Particularly in neonates, such low doses require considerable dilution of this product; careful consideration should be given to the use of this product in such circumstances. Dosing increments that were reported ranged from 2.5 to 5.0 micrograms/kilogram/minute. Usual maximum doses were 15-20 micrograms/kilogram/minute, with occasional use as great as 50 micrograms/kilogram/minute. The time course of dopamine kinetics is poorly defined. Increasing infusion rates (or dose) should be approached cautiously and only after it is apparent that hemodynamics (mainly systolic blood pressure) have stabilized with respect to the current dose and/or rate of infusion.

There have been occasional reports of vasospastic events when dopamine was infused through umbilical vessels. Due caution should be exercised if infusion of dopamine through umbilical vessels becomes necessary.