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Inotropic agents

What are Inotropic agents?

Inotropic agents are a group of medicines that affect the contraction of the heart muscle. Technically, inotropes can be divided into positive inotropes, which stimulate and increase the force of contraction of the heart muscle, and negative inotropes, which weaken the force of muscular contractions, decreasing how hard the heart has to work. However, clinically, if the word inotrope is used it typically refers to positive inotropes.

Inotropes are given for conditions associated with a low cardiac output (CO) (poor heart contraction), such as cardiogenic shock following a heart attack, severe heart failure, or following cardiac surgery. If left untreated, tissues become starved of oxygen, resulting in the formation of lactic acid and subsequent organ failure and death. Most positive inotropes work by increasing the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum or increasing the influx of calcium into the heart muscle cell.

Initial monitoring of hemodynamic parameters such as cardiac output, arterial pressure, and central venous pressure is required on initiation of a positive inotrope. Preference for one inotrope over another has not been established.

List of Inotropic agents

View by  Generic | Brand
Drug Name Avg. Rating Reviews
digoxin systemic (Pro)
Brand names: Digitek, Lanoxin
5.8
17 reviews
milrinone systemic (Pro)
9.8
4 reviews
dopamine systemic (Pro)
1.0
1 review
dobutamine systemic (Pro)
Brand name: Dobutrex
1.0
1 review
For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).

See also

Medical conditions treated or associated with inotropic agents:

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.