Two medicines, side by side
Digoxin vs dopamine
Digoxin is labeled for heart failure and atrial fibrillation; dopamine has no indication this site maps. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of digoxin since 1954 and of dopamine since 1974. In FDA's classes, digoxin is a cardiac glycoside and dopamine a catecholamine.
Check it at the source: the digoxin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 5, 2024); the dopamine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026).
Highlights of the digoxin record
Digoxin (Lanoxin) · label of December 5, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsLANOXIN is a cardiac glycoside indicated for: Treatment of mild to moderate heart failure in adults. ( 1.1 ) Increasing myocardial contractility in pediatric patients with heart failure. ( 1.2 ) Control of resting ventricular rate in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation in adults. ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Heart Failure in Adults LANOXIN is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate heart failure in adults. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 16, 1954
- Generic labelers
- 26 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.133 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Highlights of the dopamine record
Dopamine (Intropin) · label of May 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsDopamine Hydrochloride in Dextrose Injection is indicated to improve hemodynamic status in patients in distributive shock, or shock due to reduced cardiac output. Dopamine HCl in Dextrose Injection is a catecholamine indicated to improve hemodynamic status in patients in shock.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 25, 1974
- Generic labelers
- 4 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Digoxin label of December 5, 2024, Dopamine label of May 12, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do digoxin and dopamine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, digoxin is a cardiac glycoside and dopamine a catecholamine.
How each works, in its label's words: Digoxin, “This enzyme, the “sodium pump,” is responsible for maintaining the intracellular milieu throughout the body by moving sodium ions out of and potassium ions into cells.”; Dopamine, “Dopamine is a natural catecholamine formed by the decarboxylation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA).”
Half-life, in each label's words: Digoxin, “In healthy volunteers with normal renal function, digoxin has a half-life of 1.5-2 days.”; Dopamine, “Elimination The half-life of dopamine in adults is less than 2 minutes.”
Generics: digoxin since 1975; dopamine since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Digoxin | Dopamine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart failure, Atrial fibrillation | n/a |
| Pharmacologic class | Cardiac Glycoside | Catecholamine |
| How it works (label) | All of digoxin’s actions are mediated through its effects on Na-K ATPase. This enzyme, the “sodium pump,” is responsible for maintaining the intracellular milieu throughout the body by moving sodium ions out of and potassium ions into … | Dopamine is a natural catecholamine formed by the decarboxylation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). |
| Half-life (label) | In healthy volunteers with normal renal function, digoxin has a half-life of 1.5-2 days. | Elimination The half-life of dopamine in adults is less than 2 minutes. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 16, 1954 | February 25, 1974 |
| First generic approved | October 24, 1975 | October 23, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 26 labelers | 4 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.133 per tablet (Digoxin 125 mcg tablet) | n/a |
| 12-month price change | +20% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 71,335 | 3,763 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to digoxin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions