Isoproterenol is the only derivative of epinephrine with pure Beta agonists (1) Its beta 1 (increase heart rate, increase contractility) occurs conccurently with beta 2 (vasodilation) (1)

It is rarely used nowadays (my bf) because we have better drugs such as atropine for bradycardia.

When you use isoproterenol, you should infuse NS IV free standing in order to fill up the blood pressure while the vasodilatory effects of Beta 2 of isoproterenol is acting.

Isoproterenol should NOT be used in heart failure because of its beta 2 agonists causing vasodilation leading to increased oxygen demand work on the heart (2)


Bradycardia = bradydysrrhythmias

Isoproterenol can be used with phenylephrine to counter its vasodilatory effects. However, since isoproterenol is a very highly unpredictable drug, should not be the first-choice.







(1) https://books.google.com/books?id=45DKiUj1hLUC&pg=PA85&dq=isoproterenol&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHufTU5oDMAhVO3mMKHYjzAmIQ6AEINDAF#v=onepage&q=isoproterenol&f=false

(2) https://books.google.com/books?id=ievLulSqwBAC&pg=PA137&dq=isoproterenol&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHufTU5oDMAhVO3mMKHYjzAmIQ6AEILTAE#v=onepage&q=isoproterenol&f=false

(3) https://books.google.com/books?id=Bih5AXq_0uMC&pg=PA49&dq=isoproterenol&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiw-7nW6oDMAhVQ8mMKHcfbAls4FBDoAQgbMAA#v=onepage&q=isoproterenol&f=false

(4) https://books.google.com/books?id=U9fsAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA104&dq=isoproterenol+dysrhythmias&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiP8PCh7oDMAhUN1GMKHb4ZBWo4FBDoAQggMAE#v=onepage&q=isoproterenol%20dysrhythmias&f=false