What they do
These drugs improve the short-term performance of the heart. They do this by making the heart pump more forcefully or by dilating (opening up) blood vessels and reducing the workload.
Side effects
These drugs are usually given in an intensive care unit by continuous injection and patients are closely monitored.
Types of medication:
- Dobutamine
(Dobutrex®, Posiject®)
- Dopamine
(Intropin®, Select -A-Jet®)
- Dopexamine
(Dopacard®)
- Glyceryl trinitrate / nitroglycerin
(Nitrocine®, Nitronal®)
- Levosimendan
(Simdax®)
- Nesiritide
(Natrecor®)
- Sodium nitroprusside
(Nipride®, Nitropress®)
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