More from Cardopa
Other strengths and forms by Advanced Chemical Industries PLC.
Indications & Uses
Cardopa is indicated for:
Pharmacology
Dopamine is a preparation of Dopamine hydrochloride that can stimulate α, β and dopamine receptors. It is a natural catecholamine formed by the decarboxylation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). Dopamine is a precursor to norepinephrine in noradrenergic nerves and is also a neurotransmitter in certain areas of the central nervous system, especially in the nigrostriatal tract and in a few peripheral sympathetic nerves. It produces positive chronotropic and inotropic effects on the myocardium, resulting in increased heart rate and cardiac contractility. This happens directly through an agonist action on β-adrenoceptors and indirectly by causing release of norepinephrine from storage sites in sympathetic nerve endings. Dopamine does not cross the blood-brain barrier, so it does not activate dopamine receptors in the brain.
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Dosage Adult dose: Where appropriate, circulating blood volume should be restored with a suitable plasma expander or whole blood before dopamine is given. Infusion of dopamine hydrochloride solution should be started at a dosage of 2 to 5 micrograms/kg/min in patients likely to respond to a modest increase in heart force and renal perfusion. In more seriously ill patients, infusion should be started at a dosage of 5 micrograms/kg/min and increased gradually, using increments of 5 to 10 micrograms/kg/min, up to 20 to 50 micrograms/kg/min as needed. If dosages above 50 micrograms/kg/min are required, urine output should be checked frequently. In patients who do not respond to these doses, further increments of dopamine may be given in an effort to achieve adequate blood pressure, urine flow and perfusion. For patients with severe, refractory, chronic congestive heart failure, doses should be started at 0.5 to 2 micrograms/kg/min and increased by 1 to 3 micrograms/kg/min as urinary output increases. ECG, blood pressure and urine output should be monitored, and cardiac output and pulmonary wedge pressure should be monitored if possible. Children less than 12 years old: The safety and efficacy of dopamine in children under 12 years have not been established. Geriatric patients: No variation in dosage is suggested for geriatric patients, although close monitoring is required for blood pressure, urine flow and peripheral tissue perfusion.
Side Effects
Dopamine hydrochloride can cause a number of side effects. The most commonly reported are ectopic beats, nausea, vomiting, a fast heartbeat (tachycardia), chest pain (anginal pain), palpitations, breathlessness (dyspnoea), headache, low blood pressure (hypotension), high blood pressure (hypertension) and constriction of blood vessels (vasoconstriction). Less commonly, it may cause abnormal ventricular conduction, a slow heartbeat (bradycardia), goosebumps (piloerection), widened pupils (mydriasis), a widened QRS complex on ECG, raised blood urea (azotaemia) and elevated blood pressure. In patients with pre-existing vascular disease, it can lead to peripheral ischaemic gangrene. On rare occasions, fatal ventricular arrhythmias have been reported.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Dopamine should not be given to patients with uncorrected tachyarrhythmia or ventricular fibrillation. It is broken down in the tissues and blood by the enzymes monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol O methyltransferase (COMT), and dopamine and its breakdown products are almost entirely removed from the body through the urine. Patients who have recently been treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) will need much smaller doses of dopamine, and the starting dose in such patients should be cut to at least one tenth (1/10) of the usual amount. Giving too much of a potassium free solution can lead to marked hypokalemia, and infusing these solutions intravenously can also overload the body with fluid or dissolved solutes, diluting serum electrolyte levels and causing overhydration, congestion, or pulmonary oedema. Patients with impaired kidney or liver function should be watched closely. Any hypovolaemia should be corrected before starting dopamine treatment. If the diastolic blood pressure rises out of proportion to the systolic pressure, shown by a marked narrowing of the pulse pressure, the infusion rate should be lowered and the patient watched closely for further signs of excessive vasoconstriction, unless this effect is actually intended. The infusion should be tapered off gradually rather than stopped abruptly, to avoid sudden hypotension. Patients with a history of peripheral vascular disease, including atherosclerosis, arterial embolism, Raynaud's disease, cold injury, diabetic endarteritis, and Buerger's disease, should be monitored closely for any change in the color or temperature of the skin on their arms and legs. If ischaemia develops and appears to be caused by vasoconstriction, the value of continuing the dopamine infusion must be weighed against the risk of tissue death, and these changes can often be reversed by slowing or stopping the infusion. Dopamine mixed in 5% dextrose solution should be infused into a large vein wherever possible, to avoid leakage into the tissue surrounding the injection site, since such leakage can cause tissue death and sloughing. If ischaemia does occur, it can often be reversed by infiltrating the affected area with 10 to 15 ml of saline containing 5 to 10 mg of phentolamine mesylate. Dopamine should be used with great caution in patients who are inhaling cyclopropane or halogenated hydrocarbon anaesthetics, because of the increased risk of arrhythmia. Because the solution contains dextrose, it should also be used cautiously in patients with known or borderline diabetes mellitus.
Contraindications
Dopamine hydrochloride should not be given to patients who are hypersensitive to it or to any of its ingredients. It is also unsuitable for those with phaeochromocytoma, uncorrected tachyarrhythmias, or ventricular fibrillation. Dextrose solution without electrolytes should never be infused through the same line as blood, since this can cause red cells to clump together (pseudoagglutination).
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Animal studies have not shown that dopamine hydrochloride causes birth defects. Even so, it should be given to a pregnant woman only if her physician judges that the expected benefits justify the potential risk to the fetus. Whether dopamine hydrochloride passes into breast milk, and what effect this might have on a nursing infant, is not known. For this reason, it is not recommended during breast-feeding unless the expected benefits are judged to outweigh the possible risks.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Overdose
If an accidental overdose of Dopamine Hydrochloride shows up as a marked rise in blood pressure, slow the rate of administration or stop it for a short time until the patient's condition settles. The duration of action of Dopamine Hydrochloride is quite short, so no further measures are usually needed. If these steps don't bring the patient's condition under control, a short-acting α-adrenergic blocking agent such as Phentolamine should be considered.
⚠️ In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Storage
Store Dopamine Hydrochloride below 25°C, away from light and moisture. Keep it out of the reach of children.
Drug Interactions
Common questions about Cardopa 200 mg
What is Cardopa 200 mg Injection?
Cardopa 200 mg Injection is a medicine that contains Dopamine Hydrochloride. It is made by Advanced Chemical Industries PLC. It belongs to the Inotropic-sympathomimetics group of medicines.
What is Cardopa used for?
Cardopa is used for: Myocardial Infarction, Sepsis.
What are the side effects of Cardopa?
Dopamine hydrochloride can cause a number of side effects. The most commonly reported are ectopic beats, nausea, vomiting, a fast heartbeat (tachycardia), chest pain (anginal pain), palpitations, breathlessness (dyspnoea), headache, low blood pressure (hypotension), high blood pressure (hypertension) and constriction of blood vessels (vasoconstriction).
Can I take Cardopa during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Animal studies have not shown that dopamine hydrochloride causes birth defects. Even so, it should be given to a pregnant woman only if her physician judges that the expected benefits justify the potential risk to the fetus. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
What happens if I take too much Cardopa?
If an accidental overdose of Dopamine Hydrochloride shows up as a marked rise in blood pressure, slow the rate of administration or stop it for a short time until the patient's condition settles. The duration of action of Dopamine Hydrochloride is quite short, so no further measures are usually needed. In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
How should I store Cardopa?
Store Dopamine Hydrochloride below 25°C, away from light and moisture. Keep it out of the reach of children.
Can I take other medicines with Cardopa?
Some medicines can interact with Dopamine Hydrochloride, for example: Phenytoin, Levodopa + Carbidopa, Metoprolol Tartrate, Propranolol Hydrochloride, Paliperidone, Pramipexole. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about every medicine you take.
Do I need a prescription for Cardopa?
Cardopa is a prescription (Rx) medicine. Take it as your doctor advises.