The effects of dopamine are based on the dosing rate
| Effects | Dose | Receptors | Comments |
| Dopaminergic effects | 0.5-2 mcg/kg/min | Dopamine | At low doses, like 1 to 2 mcg/kg/min, DA acts mainly on dopamine-1 receptors in the renal, mesenteric, cerebral, and coronary beds, resulting in selective vasodilation. |
| Beta1 effects | 2-10 mcg/kg/min | Beta1, Dopamine | -For does between 2 and 5 mcg/kg/min, the effects on the hemodynamics vary for different patients
-At doses between 5 to 10 mcg/kg/min, dopamine also stimulates Beta-1 adrenergic receptors and increases cardiac output (mainly by increasing stroke volume with variable effects on HR. |
| Alpha effects | >10 mcg/kg/min | alpha, Beta, Dopamine | At doses >10 mcg/kg/min, the main effect of dopamine is to stimulate alpha-adrenergic receptors and produce vasoconstriction with an increased SVR. **However, the overall effect of DA on alpha-receptors is weaker than that of other vasopressors like NE and the beta-1 adrenergic stimulation of DA at doses > 2 mcg/kg/min can cause dose-limiting dysrhythmias. |
Reference
https://reference.medscape.com/drug/intropin-dopamine-342435
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/use-of-vasopressors-and-inotropes