A Comprehensive Monograph on Dopamine (DB00988): Pharmacology, Clinical Utility, and Safety Profile

Executive Summary

Dopamine, an endogenous catecholamine, holds a dual identity of profound significance in medicine: it is both an essential neurotransmitter that governs fundamental brain functions and a potent, intravenously administered sympathomimetic agent indispensable in critical care. As a neurotransmitter, its discovery and the elucidation of its role in motor control and reward pathways revolutionized neuroscience and led to breakthrough treatments for conditions like Parkinson's disease. As a pharmaceutical agent, identified by DrugBank ID DB00988 and CAS Number 51-61-6, it is a cornerstone therapy for the management of severe hemodynamic instability.

The pharmacological profile of intravenous dopamine is distinguished by a unique dose-dependent mechanism of action. At low infusion rates, it primarily stimulates dopaminergic receptors, promoting renal and mesenteric vasodilation. At intermediate rates, it exerts positive inotropic and chronotropic effects through beta-1 adrenergic receptor stimulation, enhancing cardiac output. At high rates, it acts on alpha-1 adrenergic receptors, causing systemic vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure. This therapeutic versatility allows clinicians to titrate the drug to achieve specific physiological goals in the management of shock syndromes arising from diverse etiologies such as myocardial infarction, septicemia, and major surgery.