Drug

Usual Dosage Range

Comment

Nitroglycerin

5–100 μg/min

May improve coronary blood flow to ischemic myocardium

Nitroprusside

0.5–10 (μg/kg)/min

More potent vasodilator, but improves coronary blood flow less than nitroglycerin

With therapy >24 h or in renal failure, watch for thiocyanate toxicity (blurred vision, tinnitus, delirium)

Dobutamine

2–20 (μg/kg)/min

Results in ↑ cardiac output, ↓ PCW, but does not raise bp

Dopamine

2–20 (μg/kg)/min

More appropriate than dobutamine if hypotensive

Hemodynamic effect depends on dose:

(μg/kg)/min

• < 5:↑ renal blood flow

• 2.5–10: positive inotrope

• >10: vasoconstriction

Milrinone

50–μg/kg over 10 min, then 0.375–0.75 (μg/kg)/min

Ventricular arrhythmias may result