For the correction of haemodynamic imbalances in low-perfusion circulatory insufficiency associated with myocardial infarction, trauma, septicaemia, cardiac failure and open heart surgery.
For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:
Intravenous
2 - 50 ug per kg of body weight
From 2 To 50 ug per kg of body weight once every day
Use as large a vein as possible for infusion. The initial rate of infusion is 2 to 5 micrograms per kilogram bodyweight per minute and this may be increased gradually by increments of 5 to 10 micrograms/kg/minute until the optimum dose for the individual is achieved. Up to 50 micrograms/kg/minute may be required, and even higher doses have been used.
Dopamine should be infused into a large vein whenever possible to prevent the possibility of infiltration of perivascular tissue adjacent to the infusion site. Extravasation of dopamine hydrochloride during infusion may cause ischaemic necrosis and sloughing of surrounding tissue. Ischaemia can be reversed by infiltration of the affected area with 10-15 ml of saline containing 5 to 10 mg phentolamine mesylate. A syringe with a fine hypodermic needle should be used to liberally infiltrate the ischaemic area as soon as extravasation is noted.