Drugs for Treatment of Acute Heart Failure
| Initiating Dose | Maximal Dose | |
|---|---|---|
| Vasodilators | ||
| Nitroglycerin | 20 µg/min | 40-400 µg/min |
| Nitroprusside | 10 µg/min | up to 5 µg/kg/min |
| Nesiritide | Bolus 2 µg/kg | 0.01 µg/kg per mina |
| Inotropes | ||
| Dobutamine | 1-2 µg/kg per min | 2-20 µg/kg per min |
| Milrinone | Bolus 50 µg/kg slowly over 10 min | 0.1-0.75 µg/kg per min |
| Dopamine | 1-2 µg/kg per min | 2-4 µg/kg per min |
| Levosimendan | Bolus 6-12 µg/kg over 10 min | 0.1-0.2 µg/kg per mina |
aApproved outside of the United States for the management of acute heart failure.