Inotropesare a group of medications used to improve the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body.
This article will discuss the different kinds of inotropes and their side effects.
They can be broken down into two categories: positive inotropes and negative inotropes.
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When healthcare providers talk about inotropic agents, they are always referring to positive inotropic agents.
Negative inotropic effects are considered side effects of certain drugs.
People whose hearts are weakened from illness or health conditions may need positive inotropes.
The medication is typically given through an intravenous (IV) line at a continuous rate.
If this problem is not resolved quickly, it can lead to serious complications or death.
Negative Inotropes
Negative inotropes are medications that slow down a person’s heart rate and reduce contractility.
They reduce the stress on the heart by allowing it to beat with less force.
Which Drugs Are Inotropes?
A healthcare provider can choose between many different inotropic drugs.
Calcium channel blockers and antiarrhthmics are not given to a person to produce a negative inotropic effect.
Uses of Inotropic Drugs
Inotropic drugs can treat people whoseheartdoes not pump effectively.
Pumping difficulties can result from an illness, a medical condition, or as a result of surgery.
Positive inotropes are given to a person who is very sick.
A healthcare provider will choose a medication that provides the necessary effect.
Another medication class called vasopressors is often used in conjunction with positive inotropes.
These medications cause the blood vessels to tighten or constrict (make narrower).
This increasesblood pressureand the return of blood to the heart.
Side Effects
Inotropes are strong medications that change how the heart pumps.
These medications can have side effects depending on how the medication works within the body.
Potential side effects include:
What Is Inotropic vs. Chronotropic?
An inotropic effect is when medication changes the contractility of the heart.
A positive inotrope increases contractility.
A negative inotrope decreases contractility.
A chronotropic effect is when medication changes theheart rate(how fast the heart beats).
A positive chronotrope increases heart rate.
A negative chronotrope decreases heart rate.
A person’scardiac outputdepends upon both the heart’s contractility and heart rate.
Summary
Inotropes are medications used to change the force with which the heart contracts.
Negative inotropes decrease the heart’s contractility and are used to reduce stress on the heart.
Inotropes can produce side effects.
A healthcare provider will weigh the benefit vs. the risk for the person being treated.
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The Texas Heart Institute.Inotropes.
