Hypotension
- SC, IM (Adults): 2–5 mg.
- SC, IM (Children): 0.1 mg/kg/dose every 1–2 hr as needed, maximum dose 5 mg.
- IV (Adults): 0.2 mg (range 0.1–0.5 mg), may be repeated every 10–15 min or as an infusion at 100–180 mcg/min initially, 40–60 mcg/min maintenance.
- IV (Children): 5–20 mcg/kg/dose every 10–15 min as needed or 0.1–0.5 mcg/kg/min infusion, titrate to effect.
Hypotension During Anesthesia
- SC, IM (Adults): 2–3 mg has been used 3–4 min before spinal anesthesia to prevent hypotension.
- IM, SC (Children): 0.5–1 mg/25 lb body weight.
- IV (Adults): 40–100 mcg; may repeat every 1–2 min as needed (not to exceed total dose of 200 mcg); if BP remains low, initiate continuous infusion at 10–35 mcg/min (not to exceed 200 mcg/min).
Vasoconstrictor for Regional Anesthesia
- Local (Adults): Add 1 mg to every 20 mL of local anesthetic (yields a 1:20,000 solution).
Prolongation of Spinal Anesthesia
- Spinal (Adults): 2–5 mg added to anesthetic solution.
