dopamine Side Effects
Also known as: Intropin
Analysis of 2,938 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 1997 to 2025.
Total Reports
2,938
Death-Related
976
33.2% of reports
Hospitalizations
1,540
52.4% of reports
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Most Reported Adverse Reactions
Who Reports Side Effects
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Reporting Trend by Year
Reactions in Death Reports
Top reactions reported in 976 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 212 |
| HYPOTENSION | 145 |
| DEATH | 125 |
| CARDIAC ARREST | 99 |
| RENAL FAILURE | 85 |
| SEPSIS | 81 |
| OFF LABEL USE | 75 |
| RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 66 |
| MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME | 64 |
| ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 57 |
| PNEUMONIA | 57 |
| MULTI-ORGAN FAILURE | 53 |
| CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 52 |
| SEPTIC SHOCK | 50 |
| DYSPNOEA | 47 |
| BRADYCARDIA | 46 |
| CARDIAC FAILURE | 45 |
| PAIN | 45 |
| TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 44 |
| INJURY | 43 |
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Top reactions in 1,540 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 338 |
| HYPOTENSION | 219 |
| OFF LABEL USE | 130 |
| ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 128 |
| CARDIAC ARREST | 98 |
| TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 97 |
| RENAL FAILURE | 92 |
| DIARRHOEA | 85 |
| BRADYCARDIA | 78 |
| DRUG INTERACTION | 77 |
| DYSPNOEA | 76 |
| PNEUMONIA | 73 |
| SEPSIS | 70 |
| PYREXIA | 69 |
| SHOCK | 68 |
| RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 67 |
| METABOLIC ACIDOSIS | 65 |
| CARDIOGENIC SHOCK | 63 |
| CARDIAC FAILURE | 62 |
| CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 62 |
Nearby — Related Medications
What the FAERS Data Reveals About dopamine Side Effects
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 2,938 voluntary reports linked to dopamine and its brand equivalents (Intropin), spanning 1997 through 2025. Of those, 976 (33.2%) listed death as an outcome and 1,540 (52.4%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Product Used For Unknown Indication.
Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 48% were female and 52% male; age distribution skews toward 45-64, with 602 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is drug ineffective with 549 submissions, followed by hypotension and off label use.
FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.