About your treatment  

Your doctor has ordered dobutamine to improve your heart function. The drug will be added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein over 12 hours, usually every other day.

Dobutamine is used to help your heart pump better by strengthening the heart muscle. Dobutamine also improves blood flow and relieves symptoms of heart failure. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how you respond to the medication.

Storing your medication 

• Your health care provider probably will give you several days supply of dobutamine at a time. You may be told to store it in a cool, dry area or in the refrigerator.
• If you refrigerate your dose, take your next dose from the refrigerator 1 hour before using it; place it in a clean, dry area to allow it to warm to room temperature.

Store your medication only as directed. Make sure you understand what you need to store your medication properly.

Keep your supplies in a clean, dry place when you are not using them, and keep all medications and supplies out of reach of children. Your health care provider will tell you how to throw away used needles, syringes, tubing, and containers to avoid accidental injury.

In case of emergency/overdose     

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Signs of infection     

If you are receiving dobutamine in your vein or under your skin, you need to know the symptoms of a catheter-related infection (an infection where the needle enters your vein or skin). If you experience any of these effects near your intravenous catheter, tell your health care provider as soon as possible:

• tenderness
• warmth
• irritation
• drainage
• redness
• swelling
• pain

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