Amrinone
Class: Cardiac inotrope.
Actions: Increases cardiac contractility, vasodilator.
Indications: Short-term management of severe CHF.
Contraindications:
Patients with history of hypersensitivity to the drug.
Precautions: May increase myocardial ischemia. Blood pressure,
pulse, and EKG should be constantly monitored. Amrinone should only be diluted
with normal saline or 1/2 normal saline; no dextrose solutions should be used.
Furosemide (Lasix) should not be administered into an IV line delivering
Amrinone.
Side Effects: Reduction in platelets, nausea and vomiting
cardiac arrhythmias.
Dosage: 0.75 mg/kg bolus given slowly over 2-3 minute interval
followed by maintenance infusion of 2-15 µg/kg/minute.
Routes: IV bolus and infusion as described earlier.
Pediatric Dosage: Safety in children has not been established
Note: Feel free to discuss this medication and your experiences in administering it in an emergency or hospital based setting on our message board
