Dobutamine vs. Primacor

Dobutamine and Primacor (milrinone lactate) are used as short-term treatments for life-threatening heart failure.

Dobutamine and Primacor belong to different drug classes. Dobutamine is a catecholamine and Primacor is a vasodilator.

Side effects of dobutamine and Primacor that are similar include headache.

Side effects of dobutamine that are different from Primacor include increased heart rate and increased blood pressure, ventricular ectopic activity, nervousness, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), and swelling at the injection site.

Side effects of Primacor that are different from dobutamine include tremors or easy bruising or bleeding.

Dobutamine may interact with beta-blockers and nitroprusside.

Primacor may interact with digoxin or diuretics (water pills).

Common side effects of Dobutamine include:

• increased heart rate and increased blood pressure,
• ventricular ectopic activity,
• nervousness,
• headache,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• palpitations,
• low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), or
• swelling at the injection site.

Contact your doctor if you have serious side effects of dobutamine including:

• low blood pressure,
• chest pain (angina),
• fast or slow heartbeat,
• shortness of breath, or
• trouble breathing.

Common side effects of Primacor include:

• headache,
• tremors, or
• easy bruising or bleeding.

Tell your doctor if you have a serious side effect of Primacor including:

• chest pain,
• feeling like you might pass out,
• bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing), or
• low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling).

Dobutamine Injection is a catecholamine indicated when parenteral therapy is necessary for inotropic support in the short-term treatment of adults with cardiac decompensation due to depressed contractility resulting either from organic heart disease or from cardiac surgical procedures.

Primacor (milrinone lactate) is a vasodilator used as a short-term treatment for treat life-threatening heart failure.

Dobutamine may interact with beta-blockers and nitroprusside. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Dobutamine should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. It is unknown if dobutamine passes into breast milk. If a mother requires dobutamine treatment, breastfeeding should be discontinued for the duration of the treatment.

Primacor may interact with digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps), or diuretics (water pills). Other drugs may interact with Primacor. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Primacor should be used only if prescribed. It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The usual adult dosage of Dobutamine ranges from 50 to 200 g in a 24-hour period, but in most instances an adequate response will be achieved at a dosage of approximately 100 g/24 hours.

Primacor is given in a hospital setting under a physician's supervision. A loading (starting) dose of 50 mcg/kg is administered slowly over 10 minutes followed by a continuous infusion (maintenance dose) determined by the patient's weight.