A hypertensive reaction induced by concurrent use of selegiline and dopamine.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a hypertensive reaction induced by concurrent use of selegiline and dopamine.


METHODS
A 75-year-old critically ill white man who was receiving selegiline 5 mg twice daily for Parkinson's disease was initiated on an intravenous dopamine infusion for decreased urine output and hypotension. Within minutes of starting the dopamine infusion, the patient's systolic blood pressure increased from 105 to 228 mm Hg. Similar reactions occurred during two subsequent rechallenges.


CONCLUSIONS
Since monoamine oxidase is involved in the metabolism of catecholamines, selegiline may have affected the metabolism of the dopamine administered to the patient. Although selegiline is known to be a monoamine oxidase inhibitor specific for type B, evidence exists stating that selegiline may not be as specific as previously thought.


CONCLUSIONS
Dopamine should be used cautiously, if at all, in patients who are chronically receiving selegiline or who have received selegiline within the prior two weeks.
Rose
L M
LM
Department of Pharmacy, Fairview Hospital, Cleveland, OH 44111, USA. lori.rose@fairviewhospital.org
Ohlinger
M J
MJ
Mauro
V F
VF
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D012642:Selegiline / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D012642:Selegiline; D004298:Dopamine