dobutamine

The dobutamine - A drug that is used in the treatment of heart failure and shock, and sometimes after cardiac arrest (a halt in the pumping action of the heart). The drug may be given by intravenous drip.

Dobutamine stimulates nerve cells in the heart to increase the heart rate and raise the blood pressure. For this reason, the drug may be used in a cardiac stress test to investigate potential coronary artery disease in cases where the patient is unable to exercise on a treadmill (see exercise ECG).