Pregnancy Classes

• Stimulates beta-1 receptors and alpha receptors causing increased contractility and heart rate as well as vasoconstriction, thereby increasing systemic blood pressure and coronary blood flow; clinically, alpha effects (vasoconstriction) are greater than beta effects (inotropic and chronotropic effects)

• Hypotension or shock: Treatment of severe hypotension, cardiogenic shock, or septic shock (and other vasodilatory shock states) that persist after adequate fluid volume replacement.

• None

IV: Initial: 5 to 15 mcg/minute; titrate to MAP of 65; usual dose range: 2 to 80 mcg/minute

Very rapid

1 to 2 minutes

• Abrupt discontinuation: Gradually reduce infusion rate while expanding blood volume with IV fluids during discontinuation of therapy; severe hypotension may occur with abrupt discontinuation.
• Appropriate use: Hypovolemia should be corrected before giving norepinephrine

• Cardiovascular
  • Cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, peripheral vascular insufficiency
• Central nervous system
  • Anxiety, headache
• Respiratory
  • Dyspnea