dobutamine
Brand names: Dobutrex
Dobutamine is a medicine that helps your heart pump better. It is used for a short time to treat heart problems caused by weak heart muscles.
Drug Shortage Alert
dobutamine is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Hainan Poly Pharm. Co., Ltd.. Status: Available.
View all drug shortages →What it does
This medicine is used to help your heart work better when it's not pumping enough blood.
Common side effects
Increased heart rate, Increased blood pressure, Extra heartbeats
Key warnings
Dobutamine may cause a large increase in heart rate or blood pressure.
How It Works
Dobutamine works by stimulating the heart muscle. This makes your heart beat stronger and pump more blood. It mainly affects the beta-1 receptors in your heart.
How to Take It
Dobutamine is given into your vein through an IV. The dose is based on your weight and how your body responds. The doctor will slowly increase the dose until it works well for you. You will be watched closely while you get this medicine.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if dobutamine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
Missed Dose
Since this medicine is given in a hospital, you don't have to worry about missing a dose. Your doctor will make sure you get the right amount.
Storage
This medicine is stored at room temperature and should not be frozen.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3,714 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 3,554 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
3,554
Death-Related Reports
1,361
Hospitalization Reports
1,820
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 744 |
| 2 | OFF LABEL USE | 510 |
| 3 | CARDIOGENIC SHOCK | 396 |
| 4 | MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME | 349 |
| 5 | SEPSIS | 324 |
| 6 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 317 |
| 7 | GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION | 282 |
| 8 | NAUSEA | 282 |
| 9 | VOMITING | 262 |
| 10 | ABDOMINAL DISTENSION | 248 |
| 11 | ASCITES | 246 |
| 12 | DEATH | 241 |
| 13 | HYPONATRAEMIA | 241 |
| 14 | STRESS | 237 |
| 15 | ABDOMINAL PAIN | 234 |
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
Dobutamine may cause a large increase in heart rate or blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart problems. In rare cases, a sudden drop in blood pressure can occur.
Known Drug Interactions
7.2 Drugs Metabolized by Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Drugs known to be metabolized by COMT, such as isoproterenol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, dobutamine, alpha-methyldopa, apomorphine, isoetherine, and bitolterol should be administered with caution in patients receiving entacapone regardless of the route of administration (including inhalation), as their interaction may result in increased heart rates, possibly arrhythmias, and excessive changes in blood pressure [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ].
Mechanism: These drugs are broken down by the same enzyme, so taking them at the same time can lead to higher drug levels. This can cause dangerous changes in blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat.
What to do: Your doctor should use caution when giving these drugs together. They will likely monitor your heart rhythm and blood pressure for any problems.
7.3 Antihypertensive Drugs and Pressor Agents Because of possible effects on blood pressure, atomoxetine should be used cautiously with antihypertensive drugs and pressor agents (e.g., dopamine, dobutamine) or other drugs that increase blood pressure.
Mechanism: Both drugs can raise blood pressure, so taking them together might cause an even higher increase in blood pressure.
What to do: Use this combination with caution and have your blood pressure checked regularly by a healthcare provider.
Isoproterenol and Dobutamine Propranolol is a competitive inhibitor of beta-receptor agonists, and its effects can be reversed by administration of such agents, e.g., dobutamine or isoproterenol. Also, propranolol may reduce sensitivity to dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients undergoing evaluation for myocardial ischemia.
Mechanism: Propranolol blocks the same receptors that dobutamine tries to activate, which stops dobutamine from working correctly. This can also make heart stress tests less accurate because the heart does not respond to the medicine as expected.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your medication or account for reduced test sensitivity if you are undergoing a heart stress test.
Common Questions
How long will I be on dobutamine?
Can dobutamine be taken at home?
What if my blood pressure gets too high?
Will dobutamine cure my heart problem?
Can I take other medicines with dobutamine?
What should I tell my doctor before starting dobutamine?
Will dobutamine affect my potassium levels?
What if the dobutamine solution looks pink?
Can dobutamine be used for children?
When should I not take dobutamine?
What are the common side effects of dobutamine?
Does dobutamine interact with other medications?
What drug class is dobutamine?
Is dobutamine safe during pregnancy?
Is dobutamine currently in shortage?
Related Medications in Inotropic Agent (Beta-1 Agonist)
Other drugs grouped near dobutamine — same-class peers and common alternatives.
adenosine
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atropine
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bumetanide
Bumex
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carvedilol
Coreg
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What the FDA Data Shows for dobutamine
The FDA label for dobutamine (sold under brand names such as Dobutrex) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Inotropic Agent (Beta-1 Agonist) class. This medicine is used to help your heart work better when it's not pumping enough blood. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Increased heart rate, Increased blood pressure, Extra heartbeats.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,714 voluntary reports. The database also lists 3 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: January 6, 2026
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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