Isoproterenol
Isuprel
Nonselective beta (β1 + β2) agonist
Pure β agonist → ↑ HR/contractility (β1) + vasodilation/bronchodilation (β2). No α activity → ↓ diastolic BP.
Indications
- •Bradycardia/heart block (temporizing until pacing)
- •Denervated (transplanted) heart bradycardia
- •Torsades bridge (increase rate)
- •Right heart failure/pulmonary HTN (chronotropy + PVR reduction)
- •Beta-blocker overdose
Dosing
| Context | Adult | Pediatric |
|---|---|---|
| IV infusion | 2–10 mcg/min, titrate to HR | — |
Pharmacokinetics
Onset immediate. Half-life ~2 min. COMT metabolism.
Hemodynamic effects
↑ HR + contractility; ↓ SVR/diastolic BP (β2) → may drop MAP; ↑ myocardial O2 demand.
Respiratory effects
Bronchodilation (β2).
Side effects
- !Tachyarrhythmias, myocardial ischemia (↑ demand + ↓ coronary perfusion pressure)
- !Hypotension (β2 vasodilation)
Contraindications
- ×Coronary ischemia (relative — increases demand)
- ×Tachyarrhythmias
Clinical pearls
- ★Go-to chronotrope for the DENERVATED transplanted heart (atropine won't work — no vagal innervation).
- ★Raises myocardial O2 demand while dropping diastolic (coronary perfusion) pressure — risky in CAD.
Other drugs in Cardiac / BP
- Epinephrine
α1 (vasoconstriction), α2, β1 (inotropy + chronotropy), β2 (bronchodilation, vasodilation in skeletal muscle). Dose-dependent receptor preference: low-dose β-predominant, high-dose α-predominant.
- Norepinephrine
Strong α1 → vasoconstriction. Mild β1 → modest inotropy. Minimal β2.
- Phenylephrine
Pure α1 agonist → vasoconstriction. No β activity.
- Dexmedetomidine
α2 agonist (locus coeruleus) → sedation + analgesia + anxiolysis without significant respiratory depression.
- Vasopressin
Endogenous nonapeptide hormone. V1 receptor agonist on vascular smooth muscle (Gq → IP3 → Ca²⁺ → vasoconstriction). V2 on renal collecting ducts (Gs → cAMP → aquaporin insertion → water reabsorption). At pressor doses (0.01–0.04 U/min), V1 effects dominate.
- Esmolol
Selective β1-adrenergic receptor antagonist. Decreases HR, contractility, conduction velocity, and AV node refractoriness. Selectivity for β1 over β2 reduces (does not eliminate) bronchospasm risk vs non-selective beta-blockers.
- Magnesium Sulfate
Multiple mechanisms: (1) NMDA receptor antagonism (anticonvulsant, analgesic); (2) Voltage-gated calcium channel blockade in vascular + uterine smooth muscle (vasodilation, tocolysis); (3) Decreased ACh release at neuromuscular junction (NMB potentiation); (4) Membrane stabilization (antiarrhythmic, especially torsades).
- Amiodarone
Multichannel blockade — primarily class III (K+ channel block → prolonged repolarization, increased refractory period), plus class I (Na+ block), class II (β-blocker), class IV (Ca²⁺ block) properties. Treats most supraventricular AND ventricular arrhythmias. Long elimination half-life (weeks–months) limits chronic use.
Browse all classes: /reference/drugs
Suggested reading
- •Stoelting & Hines, Pharmacology & Physiology in Anesthetic Practice, 6e
- •Miller's Anesthesia, 9e
- •FDA package insert



