DRUG SUPPLIED DOSE COMMENTS
DOPAMINE (Paeds)
(Intropin)

Mechanism of action:

Dopamine is a beta adrenergic agonist with dopaminergic effects (in low dose), beta 1 effects (in medium dose) and alpha effects (in high dose).


Ref: 37, 44


Last update: 2019-01-17		 injection:
40 mg/mL 5 mL vial (SAP);
1.6 mg/mL 250 mL bag;
3.2 mg/mL 250 mL bag.

May be prepared as 250 or 500 mL PVC containers when required (if rate > 5mL/hour). Request from pharmacy.

Standard concentrations for Critical Care (commercially available):

1.6 mg/mL in D5W PFS (1600 mcg/mL)

3.2 mg/mL in D5W PFS (3200 mcg/mL)

pH = 2.5 - 4.5
Osmolality (40 mg/mL) = 619, (3.2 mg/mL) = 295

Protect from light, change solution at 96 hours. Discard solution if yellow-brown discoloration occurs.

Use Alaris Pump to determine infusion rate.

AND

Confirm with the following calculation:

Infusion rate (mL/h) = Dose (mcg/kg/min) x Weight (kg) x 60 (min/h) divided by Concentration (mcg/mL).




 Hypotension, Infants, Children and Adults:

0.5 - 20 mcg/kg/min

Low Dose: 1 -5 mcg/kg/min. (Dopaminergic, increase renal blood flow)

Medium Dose: 5-15 mcg/kg/min. (Beta-Adrenergic, increase HR and contractility)

High Dose: > 15 mcg/kg/min. (Alpha-Adrenergic, increase peripheral vasoconstriction)

Maximum Dose: 50 mcg/kg/min

Protect from light, change solution at 96 hours. Discard solution if yellow-brown discoloration occurs.
 For use in critical care areas only (up to 5 mcg/kg/min. may be given on the oncology unit)

Correct hypovolemia before use.

Use cautiously with phenytoin as hypotension and bradycardia may be exacerbated.

Adverse effects include tachycardia, arrhythmia, hypotension, hypertension, peripheral gangrene. These can occur with larger doses.

Central line preferred. Do not infuse via umbilical artery catheter. Avoid peripheral line infusion due to risk of extravasation and tissue necrosis.

For treatment of extravasation see phentolamine protocol on ePOPS


Standard Prescription:

dopamine __mcg/kg/min continuous IV infusion