Dopamine infusion rates

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

I have heard that "renal dose dopamine" is a myth and that dopamine at any rate acts as a pressor. The people who have told me this cannot cite any literature nor have I ben able to find anything. Everything I find describes low-dose as renal dose, Mid-dose as mixed, and high dose as pure pressor.

Can anyone point me to any references?

thanks for your help!:)

[RN12345656]

Unfortunately, you may not find exactly what you're looking for. We know as nurses at any rate it will act as a pressor.

These sites may help you..

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/dopamine_ids.htm

http://www.rxmed.com Search Intropin

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Here's an article that discusses the controversies over the use of dopamine for renal "protection" or perfusion. Very interesting and explains a lot. We almost never use dopamine in our unit for any reason. (our docs hate it!) If we need vasopressor effects we go right to epinephrine, then add norepinephrine if needed.

http://www.eneph.com/pdf/v31n9p615.pdf

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

Thank you for your help. Both of your suggestions are helpful. Our hospital protocol does not allow transfer fo open-heart surgery patient to our telmetry unit unless they are off of all pressors, yet they often arrive on renal-dose dopamine. This is usually continues for about 24 hours,depending on the amount of diuresis or BP. Thes nurses are not titrating, but they have parameters for notifying the physician.

[pricklypear]

Thank you for your help. Both of your suggestions are helpful. Our hospital protocol does not allow transfer fo open-heart surgery patient to our telmetry unit unless they are off of all pressors, yet they often arrive on renal-dose dopamine. This is usually continues for about 24 hours,depending on the amount of diuresis or BP. Thes nurses are not titrating, but they have parameters for notifying the physician.

When I worked tele, we used Dopamine at "renal" doses quite often. Our policy was that it could not be titrated up, only down; and at doses no higher that 3mcg/kg.