What is milrinone?
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 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 discuss with my healthcare provider before I receive 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.