Milrinone is a vasodilator that works by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessels to help them
dilate (widen). This lowers blood pressure and allows blood to flow more easily through your veins
and arteries.
Milrinone is used as a short-term treatment for treat life-threatening heart failure.
Milrinone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking milrinone?
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to milrinone, or if you have
recently had a heart attack.
If possible before you receive milrinone, tell your doctor if you have a heart rhythm disorder
or low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia).
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether milrinone is harmful to an unborn
baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
during treatment.
It is not known whether milrinone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby.
Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated with milrinone to tell
your caregivers if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, make sure any doctor caring for your
pregnancy or your baby knows that you have received this medication.
How should I take milrinone?
Milrinone is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this
injection in a clinic or hospital setting. Milrinone is usually given around-the-clock for up to 48 hours.
Your heart rate and blood pressure will be constantly monitored while you are being treated
with milrinone. Your kidney function and electrolytes may also need to be checked with blood tests.
What happens if I miss a dose of milrinone?
Since milrinone is given by a healthcare professional, you are not likely to miss a dose.
Where can I get more information about milrinone?
Your pharmacist has information about milrinone written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of milrinone?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
chest pain;
feeling like you might pass out;
bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble
breathing); or
low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme
thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling).
Less serious side effects may include:
headache;
tremors; or
easy bruising or bleeding.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about milrinone?
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to milrinone, or if you have
recently had a heart attack.
If possible before you receive milrinone, tell your doctor if you have a heart rhythm disorder or
low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia), or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated to tell your caregivers
about any health conditions you have or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, make sure
any doctor caring for you afterward knows that you have received this medication.
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin,
Lanoxicaps), or a diuretic (water pill).
While receiving milrinone, tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such
as chest pain, feeling like you might pass out, wheezing or trouble breathing, confusion, uneven heart
rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, or muscle weakness.
What should I avoid while taking milrinone?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after
your treatment with milrinone.
What other drugs will affect milrinone?
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:
digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); or
diuretic (water pill).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
milrinone. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins,
minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication
without telling your doctor.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
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a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009