What is levosimendan used for?
Levosimendan is an inodilator indicated for the short-term treatment of acutely decompensated severe chronic heart failure, and in situations where conventional therapy is not considered adequate.
Is levosimendan FDA approved?
Although not approved for any use in the United States, levosimendan, a calcium sensitizing inotrope, is commonly used in other countries for treating heart failure and low cardiac output syndrome in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
What type of drug is levosimendan?
Levosimendan (INN) /ˌliːvoʊsaɪˈmɛndən/ is a calcium sensitizer used in the management of acutely decompensated congestive heart failure. It is marketed under the trade name Simdax (Orion Corporation). Overall the drug has a two fold mechanism of action.
How do you administer levosimendan?
Run infusion at 0.1 micrograms /kg /min and continue for 24 hours. 0.05micrograms/kg/min should be considered if a more cautious dosing regimen is preferred to assess tolerability, or if the patient develops severe adverse effects with 0.1micrograms/kg/min. Use of levosimendan for longer than 24 hours is unnecessary.
What is the mechanism of action of levosimendan?
Levosimendan has a dual mechanism of action: (1) This agent sensitizes troponin C to calcium in a manner dependent on the calcium concentration, thereby increasing the effects of calcium on cardiac myofilaments during systole and improving contraction at low energy cost (Hasenfuss et al 1998; Janssen et al 2000).
What receptors does levosimendan work?
Levosimendan is capable if increasing calcium binding to cardiac troponin C, the myofibrillar receptor protein that activates actin–myosin interaction, resulting in inotropy.
Who makes levosimendan?
About Levosimendan It was discovered and developed by Orion Pharma, Orion Corporation of Espoo Finland, and is currently approved in over 60 countries for this indication and not available in the United States.
Is levosimendan available in India?
5 mL Levosimendan Injection, for Clinic and Hospital, Rs 180/unit | ID: 14715508912.
Can levosimendan be given peripherally?
The colour of the concentrate may turn to orange during storage, but there is no loss of potency, and the product may be used until the indicated expiration date if storage instructions have been followed. The infusion is for intravenous use only and can be administered by the peripheral or central route.
How does levosimendan increase cardiac output?
Levosimendan is a novel agent that increases the sensitivity of the contractile apparatus to calcium increasing inotropy by binding to cardiac myocyte troponin C. This agent will increase cardiac ejection fraction, while reducing catecholamine dose with minimal effects on blood pressure and HR.
What is calcium sensitizer?
Calcium sensitizers are a new class of inotropic drugs. They improve myocardial performance by directly acting on contractile proteins without increasing intracellular calcium load. Thus, they avoid the undesired effects of an increased intracellular calcium load.
What type of drug is milrinone?
Milrinone is a PDE-III inhibitor with inotropic, lusitropic, and vasodilatory properties used for the short-term treatment of acute decompensated heart failure.