DOBUTAMINE

Fetal Risk Summary

Dobutamine, an inotropic agent, is structurally related to dopamine. Reproduction studies in rats (at doses up to the normal human dose—10 µg/kg/min for 24 hours for a total daily dose of 14.4 mg/kg [NHD]) and rabbits (at doses up to twice the NHD) did not reveal any evidence of fetal harm (1).

No reports describing the placental transfer of dobutamine or studying its effects during human pregnancy have been located (see also Dopamine). The relatively low molecular weight (about 301), however, probably indicates that transfer to the fetus occurs. Short-term use in one patient with a myocardial infarction at 18 weeks' gestation was not associated with any known adverse effects (2).

Breast Feeding Summary

No data are available.

References

1. Product information. Dobutrex. Eli Lilly and Company, 2000.
2. Stokes IM, Evans J, Stone M. Myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest in the second trimester followed by assisted vaginal delivery under epidural analgesia at 38 weeks gestation. Case report. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1984;91:197–8.