Dobutamine hydrochloride Injection
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Dobutamine Sandoz. It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using Dobutamine Sandoz against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
What Dobutamine Sandoz is used for
The name of your medicine is Dobutamine Sandoz. It contains the active ingredient dobutamine hydrochloride.
This medicine belongs to a group of medicines called adrenergic stimulants.
This medicine is used to treat heart failure following a heart attack or heart surgery. Dobutamine Sandoz works by helping the heart to beat more strongly.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
Dobutamine Sandoz is not recommended for use in children. The safety and effectiveness of Dobutamine Sandoz in children have not been established.
Before you are given Dobutamine Sandoz
When you must not be given it
Do not use Dobutamine Sandoz if you have an allergy to dobutamine or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not use Dobutamine Sandoz if you have a heart condition known as idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis.
This medicine should not be used after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you are not sure whether you should be given this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to sodium metabisulfite.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, including:
- high or low blood pressure
- any heart problems
- asthma
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you are given Dobutamine Sandoz.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Dobutamine Sandoz may interfere with each other. These include:
- some medicines used to treat high blood pressure.
- some medicines used to treat heart problems
- some anaesthetics
- some adrenergic agents (adrenaline-like agents)
These medicines may be affected by Dobutamine Sandoz or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
How Dobutamine Sandoz is given
Dobutamine Sandoz is given as a slow injection into a vein. Dobutamine Sandoz is a concentrated injection which will be diluted before being injected.
Dobutamine Sandoz will be given to you in hospital by highly trained medical personnel.
Your doctor will decide on the dose and how long you will receive Dobutamine Sandoz. This will depend on your condition, whether you are taking any other medicines and how well you respond to the medicine.
If you are given too much (overdose)
If you have been given too much Dobutamine Sandoz your doctor has information on how to recognise and treat an overdose.
If you have been given too much Dobutamine Sandoz you may experience symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, tremor, anxiety, headache, shortness of breath, fast heart beat or chest pain.
However, immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have been given too much Dobutamine Sandoz. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are using Dobutamine Sandoz
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are being given Dobutamine Sandoz
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are using this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are being given this medicine. It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
If you are about to have any blood tests tell your doctor that you are having Dobutamine Sandoz. It may interfere with the results of some tests.
If you become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Dobutamine Sandoz.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- nausea
- headache
- fever
- pain, redness or swelling at the site of the injection
- dizziness, lightheadedness
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine. They are usually mild.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the of the following:
- shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
- skin rash, itching or hives
- swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
- swelling of the hands or feet
- chest pain
- fast heart beat
- feeling faint
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
The above list includes serious side effects which may require urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
Do not be alarmed by this list of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After using Dobutamine Sandoz
Storage
Dobutamine Sandoz will be stored on the pharmacy or on the ward in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop using this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Dobutamine Sandoz is a clear colourless solution which is supplied in colourless glass ampoules. It is available in packs of 1, 5 or 10.
Ingredients
Each ampoule of Dobutamine Sandoz contains 250mg of the active ingredient, dobutamine, as the hydrochloride salt. It also contains:
- sodium metabisulfite
- sodium hydroxide
- hydrochloric acid
- water for injections
This medicine does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Supplier
Sandoz Pty Ltd
ABN 60 075 449 553
54 Waterloo Road
Macquarie Park, NSW 2113
Australia
Tel: 1800 634 500
This leaflet was revised in February 2016
Australian Register Number
AUST R 82994
Published by MIMS May 2017