Prescription medication · Inotropic / Vasopressor
dopamine
Also sold as Intropin. Dopamine injection is used to improve blood flow in people with shock.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 2,938
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 28
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
dopamine (Intropin) is a prescription Inotropic / Vasopressor, among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (2,938 FDA reports), with 28 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
dopamine (Intropin) is a prescription Inotropic / Vasopressor. Dopamine injection is used to improve blood flow in people with shock.
Dopamine injection helps improve blood flow in patients suffering from shock. It is used when shock is caused by problems with blood distribution or reduced heart function.
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Drug Shortage Alert
dopamine is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company. Status: Unavailable.
View all drug shortages →What it does
Dopamine injection is used to improve blood flow in people with shock.
Common side effects
No common side effects listed.
Key warnings
Dopamine can cause tissue damage if it leaks out of the vein.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from dopamine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Dopamine works by stimulating certain receptors in your body. This stimulation helps to increase your heart rate and blood pressure. It also improves blood flow to your kidneys.
How to Take It
Dopamine is given into a vein through an IV. A doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. The usual starting dose is 2 to 5 mcg/kg/minute. The dose may be increased slowly up to 50 mcg/kg/minute as needed.
This is a plain-language summary of dopamine's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There is not enough information about the safety of dopamine during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if dopamine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of dopamine's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
Since this medicine is given in a hospital, you don't have to worry about missing a dose.
This is a plain-language summary of dopamine's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
This medicine is stored at room temperature, away from freezing. Throw away any unused medicine.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 2,938 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for dopamine, by number of reports
- Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure
336 reports
- Sudden kidney damage
Sudden kidney damage
182 reports
- Heart stops
Heart stops
165 reports
- Kidney failure
Kidney failure
162 reports
- Condition gets worse 125
Condition gets worse
125 reports
- Death 125
Death
125 reports
- Poisoning from different substances 124
Poisoning from different substances
124 reports
- Blood infection 113
Blood infection
113 reports
- Slow heart rate 112
Slow heart rate
112 reports
- Difficulty breathing 112
Difficulty breathing
112 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for dopamine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where dopamine sits
dopamine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 18% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is dopamine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 2,938 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1997–2025.
Total Reports
2,938
Reports Mentioning Death
976
33.2% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
1,540
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | HYPOTENSION | 336 |
| 4 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 182 |
| 5 | CARDIAC ARREST | 165 |
| 6 | RENAL FAILURE | 162 |
| 7 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 125 |
| 8 | DEATH | 125 |
| 9 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 124 |
| 10 | SEPSIS | 113 |
| 11 | BRADYCARDIA | 112 |
| 12 | DYSPNOEA | 112 |
| 13 | DIARRHOEA | 104 |
| 14 | RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 104 |
| 15 | PNEUMONIA | 100 |
| 16 | DRUG INTERACTION | 99 |
| 17 | METABOLIC ACIDOSIS | 96 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Dopamine can cause tissue damage if it leaks out of the vein. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any pain, swelling, or redness around the IV site. This medicine may also cause heart rhythm problems. If you have asthma, be aware this drug contains sodium metabisulfite, which can cause a severe allergic reaction.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Drugs metabolized by COMT: use with caution ( 5.10 , 7.2 ) Anti-hypertensive agents: dose adjustment may be required ( 7.3 ) Tricyclic antidepressants: risk of hypertension and dyskinesia reported during concomitant use with carbidopa/levodopa ( 7.4 ) Dopamine D2 receptor antagonists, isoniazid, phenytoin, papaverine and iron salts: may reduce efficacy of carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone tablets ( 7.5 , 7.6 , 7.7 , 7.8 , 7.9 ) Drugs that interfere with biliary excretion, glucuronidation and intestinal beta-glucuronidase: dose adjustment of carbidopa, levodopa and...
Mechanism: These medications compete for the same enzyme that clears them from your body. This can cause the drugs to reach high levels, potentially leading to heart rhythm issues or blood pressure spikes.
What to do: Use this combination with extreme caution. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust your doses and monitor your heart health closely.
7.4 Neuroleptic Drugs The risk of parkinsonism, NMS, and akathisia may be increased by concomitant use of AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO with dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics.
Mechanism: This drug lowers the amount of dopamine available in the brain. Taking it with other drugs that affect dopamine can increase the risk of serious movement-related side effects like stiffness or restlessness.
What to do: Your doctor will watch you closely for any new or worsening movement problems. They may need to adjust your treatment plan if you use both.
Sympathomimetics Epinephrine Norepinephrine Dopamine Can increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Succinylcholine May cause sudden extrusion of potassium from muscle cells causing arrhythmias in patients taking digoxin.
Mechanism: These drugs both affect the heart's rhythm and how strongly it beats. Combining them can make the heart beat in an irregular or dangerous way.
What to do: Your heart rhythm should be monitored closely by a healthcare professional. Your doctor will determine if the benefits of using both drugs outweigh the risks.
7.6 Neuroleptic Drugs The risk for Parkinsonism, NMS, and akathisia may be increased by concomitant use of tetrabenazine and dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone, thioridazine, ziprasidone) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 , 5.5 , 5.6 )] .
Mechanism: Both drugs affect how dopamine works in the brain. Using them together can cause movement problems or serious nervous system reactions.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for movement issues or signs of a serious reaction. They may need to adjust your doses.
Product Clinical Comment on Concomitant Use [See Contraindications (4.1)] ; Predominant Effect/Risk [Hypertensive Reaction (HR) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] ; or Serotonin Syndrome (SS) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.7)] ] Altretamine Use with caution If not otherwise specified in this table, consider avoiding concomitant use (see also information on medication-free intervals , use agent at the lowest appropriate dose, monitor for effects of the interaction, advise the patient to report potential effects, and be prepared to discontinue the agent and treat effects of the...
Mechanism: Tranylcypromine prevents the body from breaking down dopamine, which can cause dopamine levels to become dangerously high. This can result in a life-threatening increase in blood pressure.
What to do: Avoid this combination if possible, as it can be very dangerous. If dopamine must be used, your doctor will need to use a much lower dose and monitor your blood pressure constantly.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What should I tell my doctor before taking dopamine?
How will I know if the medicine is working?
Can dopamine cause any long-term side effects?
What if my blood pressure gets too high?
Can I take other medicines with dopamine?
What if I have kidney problems?
Will I need any tests while taking dopamine?
How long will I need to take dopamine?
What happens if I stop taking dopamine suddenly?
Are there other treatments for shock?
Does dopamine interact with other medications?
What drug class is dopamine?
Is dopamine safe during pregnancy?
Is dopamine currently in shortage?
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Medication Guides
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Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
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Common Drug Interactions
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What the FDA Data Shows for dopamine
The FDA label for dopamine (sold under brand names such as Intropin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Inotropic / Vasopressor class. Dopamine injection is used to improve blood flow in people with shock. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 2,938 voluntary reports. The database also lists 28 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: November 3, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages