Select-a-Jet Dopamine

How does it work?

Dopamine hydrochloride is a catecholamine that works at a number of different receptor sites in the body depending on the dose at which it is administered. At lower doses it binds to dopamine receptors in the kidney, gut, brain and heart causing the blood vessels in these organs to widen. This improves the blood flow and therefore improves the amount of oxygen supplied to the organs. It also causes an increase in urine output from the kidneys. When the dose of dopamine is increased, beta-receptors, which are found on the heart muscle, are also activated. This causes an increase in the rate and strength at which the heart beats. This allows blood to be pumped effectively around the body in conditions where the pumping ability of the heart is reduced. Shock is a state in which blood flow to and its passage through a tissue or organ is inadequate to sustain life. It is usually associated with very low blood pressure and the production of abnormally low volumes of urine, and may be caused by a variety of conditions. As dopamine improves blood flow to organs and increases the production of urine, it is useful in the treatment of shock. This medicine is injected slowly into the veins (intravenous infusion) to treat shock, which may be caused by trauma, heart attack, open heart surgery, heart failure, kidney failure and severe bacterial infections of the blood.

What is it used for?

Reduced blood flow to vital internal organs (shock)

Warning!

People taking this medicine should have regular blood tests to monitor their kidney and liver function.

This medicine contains the preservative sodium metabisulphite, which may cause allergic type reactions of varying severity in individuals who are sensitive to sulphites.

Use with caution in

Abnormally high amount of carbon dioxide in the blood (hypercarbia)

Children

Diabetes mellitus

High acid levels in the blood and tissues (acidosis)

Low blood potassium levels (hypokalaemia)

Low levels of oxygen in the tissues (hypoxia)

Low volume of circulating blood (hypovolaemia)

Narrowing of blood vessels in the extremities

Not to be used in

Irregular heart beats (arrhythmias)

Tumour of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma)

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

There is no information available regarding the safety of this medicine during breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Headache

Chest pain (angina)

Low blood pressure (hypotension)

Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations)

Nausea and vomiting

Difficulty in breathing (dyspnoea)

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Dilated pupils

Increased heart rate (tachycardia)

Irregular heart beats

Inadequate blood flow leading to low levels of oxygen in the tissues of the extremities (peripheral ischaemia), which may lead to gangrene

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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