Vasopressors

Epinephrine ^[1]

• Receptors: Moderate beta-2, strong beta-1 and alpha adrenergic

• Increased cardiac output (CO) and heart rate (HR)

• Decreased renal perfusion

• Increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), minimally

• Increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR)

• Significant increase in systolic function

• No effect in diastolic function

• Increased oxygen demand, significantly

• Variable blood pressure (BP)

Norepinephrine

• Receptors: Strong alpha-1 and alpha-2, moderate beta-1

• Increased PVR, minimally

• Increased BP

• Increased SVR, significantly

• No effect on diastolic function

• Increased oxygen demand

• Increased systolic function, minimally

• Decreased renal perfusion

• Variable CO

Phenylephrine ^[2]

• Receptors: Strong alpha-1

• Increased SVR, significantly

• No effect on PVR

• Increased BP

• No effect on HR

• No effect on systolic or diastolic function

• No effect on myocardial oxygen demand

• Decreased CO and renal perfusion

Dopamine, low dose (1-5 µg/kg/min)

• Receptors: Dopaminergic agonist

• Renal and mesenteric vasodilation

• Increased HR

• Increased systolic function, minimal

• No effect in diastolic function

• Increased oxygen demand, minimal

• Increased SVR, minimal

• No effect on PVR

Dopamine, medium dose (6-10 µg/kg/min)

• Receptors: Beta-1 agonist

• Increased systolic function

• Increased HR and CO

• No effect in diastolic function

• Increased myocardial oxygen demand

• Increased SVR

• Increased PVR, minimal

• Renal vasodilation

Dopamine, large dose (11-20 µg/kg/min)

• Receptors: Alpha-1 agonist

• Increased HR, CO, PVR

• No effect on diastolic function

• Increased myocardial oxygen demand

• Increased PVR, minimal

• Increased SVR, significantly

Dobutamine ^[3]

• Receptors: Strong beta-1, weak beta-2 and alpha receptors

• Increased HR, CO

• Increased HR

• Increased systolic function

• No effect on diastolic function

• Increased in myocardial oxygen demand

• Decreased SVR

• Decreased PVR, minimally

Vasopressin

• Receptors: ADH analogue

• PVR effect unknown

• Increased SVR, significantly

• No effect on HR

• No effect on systolic or diastolic function

• No effect in myocardial oxygen demand

• Splanchnic vasoconstriction