Dopamine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter used to treat hemodynamic imbalances, poor perfusion of vital organs, low cardiac output, and hypotension. One of the catecholamine neurotransmitters in the brain.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Dopamine is a precursor to norepinephrine in noradrenergic nerves and is also a neurotransmitter in certain areas of the central nervous system. Dopamine produces positive chronotropic and inotropic effects on the myocardium, resulting in increased heart rate and cardiac contractility. This is accomplished directly by exerting an agonist action on beta-adrenoceptors and indirectly by causing release of norepinephrine from storage sites in sympathetic nerve endings. In the brain, dopamine acts as an agonist to the five dopamine receptor subtypes (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5).
- Primary indication
- For the correction of hemodynamic imbalances present in the shock syndrome due to myocardial infarction, trauma, endotoxic septicemia, open-heart surgery, renal failure, and chronic cardiac decompensation as in congestive failureCurator reviewed · 5 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C8H11NO2 · 153.1784 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2001 · United States, 1981 · European Union, 2024
- Also known as
- 3-Hydroxytyramine · Oxytyramine
- Code names
- NSC-173182
- Brand names
Resolves to
VYFYYTLLBUKUHU-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESNCCC1=CC(O)=C(O)C=C1What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Dopamine, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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