Levosimendan information from DrugsUpdate
Levosimendan, a calcium-sensitizer, is prescribed for the short-term management of acute decompensated congestive heart failure.
Pharmacodynamics
Levosimendan exert positive inotropic effect by activation of ATP-dependent potassium channels. Levosimendan promotes cardioprotective and vasodilatation effects. Levosimendan directly acts on the molecular cascade of myocardial infarction pathogenesis. Levosimendan increase the calcium affinity towards cardiac Troponin C proteins and stabilize calcium-dependent conformational changes. Levosimendan enhances myocardial performance rate without increasing myocardial oxygen demand. Levosimendan induces vascular smooth muscle cells and promotes vasodilatation.
Pharmacokinetics
After intravenous administration, the drug is metabolized into two metabolites. The plasma half-life of Levosimendan is about one hour. The terminal half-life of the metabolites is 70-80 hours.
Levosimendan Indications / Levosimendan Uses
No information available
Levosimendan Adverse Reactions / Levosimendan Side Effects
Levosimendan can cause hypotension and headache
Precautions
Levosimendan is contraindicated in patients with renal and/or hepatic impairment, severe hypotension, history of torsades de pointes, severe ventricular filling, obstruction of ventricular outflow and tachycardia.
Special Precautions
No information available
Other Drug Interactions
Levosimendan may interact with nitrates, ACE-II inhibitors, norepinephrine, beta blockers and dobutamine.
Other Interactions
No information available
Dosage
Consider administration of 6-24 µg kg-1 min-1 over 10-20 minutes. The maintenance dose should be 0.05–0.2 µg kg-1 min-1. The infusions should not be administered more than 24 hours.
Food(before/after)
No information available
List of Contraindications
Levosimendan and Pregnancy
USFDA Pregnancy category is unknown. However, Levosimendan should be avoided during pregnancy.
Levosimendan and Lactation
No adequate clinical studies to demonstrate the safety of Levosimendan in nursing mothers. Breastfeeding mothers should be avoided while taking Levosimendan.
Levosimendan and Children
No information available
Levosimendan and Geriatic
No information available
Levosimendan and Other Contraindications
No information available
Storage
No information available
Lab interference
No information available
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