Produced naturally by the body, pharmaceutical companies manufacture dopamine as a medication to treat a variety of ailments. Doctors inject dopamine intravenously to help blood flow imbalances that occur following traumatic health events like renal and congestive heart failure, heart attacks, trauma, and open-heart surgery. Serious health concerns are associated with too much dopamine in your system.
Abnormal Heart Rhythms
When administered at elevated doses, abnormal heart rhythms are possible. In particular, there have been reports of bradycardia, a slow and/or irregular pulse, in patients receiving 16 mcg per kg per minute of dopamine, according to Drugs.com.
Kidneys
Although data is limited, it appears that dopamine's beneficial effect in treating kidney problems may decrease over time when doses exceed 5 mcg per kg per minute. At these higher doses, dopamine may cause blood vessel narrowing, which in turn can lead to decreased blood flow to the kidneys and hinder renal functioning.
Endocrine System
Over time, dopamine can affect the body's endocrine system, a network of glands that secrete hormones into the body and direct almost every cell, organ and bodily process. More specifically, prolonged doses of dopamine may lead to a decrease in prolactin that impacts human growth hormone, impairs T-lymphocyte growth that plays a critical role in the immune system, and inhibits the release of the TSH hormone linked to the thyroid disorder known as hypothyroidism.
Blood Pressure
At doses greater than 5 mcg per kg per minute, dopamine may cause high blood pressure or hypertension, according to Drugs.com.
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