Isoproterenol: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Isoproterenol is a beta-adrenergic agonist sold in the U.S. under 6 brand and generic names, for adams-stokes syndrome, bradycardia and low cardiac output. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Beta-Adrenergic Agonist
- Treats (across its forms)
- Adams-Stokes Syndrome, Bradycardia and Low Cardiac Output
- Available as
- Powder · Disc · Injectable · Solution · Tablet · Spray/Inhaler, metered
- Sold as
- 6 products — Norisodrine, Norisodrine Aerotrol and Isoproterenol Hydrochloride, and others
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
How Isoproterenol Hydrochloride is dosed
From the FDA label for Isoproterenol Hydrochloride (application ANDA211738). Other isoproterenol products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Initiate Isoproterenol Hydrochloride Injection, USP at the lowest recommended dose and increase gradually based on patient response ( 2.2 ) Recommended initial dosage: • Shock: 0.5 mcg to 5 mcg per minute as an intravenous infusion ( 2.2 ) • Bronchospasm: 10 mcg to 20 mcg intravenous injection ( 2.2 ) 2.1 General Considerations Inspect visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Do not use if the injection is pinkish or darker than slightly yellow or contains a precipitate. Discard any unused portion. Diluted solution should be used immediately. Unused material should be discarded. 2.2 Recommended Dosage Dosage should generally be started at the lowest recommended dose and increased gradually based on patient response. Recommended dosage for adults with shock and hypoperfusion states: Route of Administration Preparation of Dilution† Infusion Rate†† Intravenous infusion Dilute 5 mL (1 mg) in 500 mL of 5% Dextrose Injection, USP 0.5 mcg to 5 mcg per minute (0.25 mL to 2.5 mL of diluted solution) †Concentrations up to 10 times greater have been used when limitation of volume is essential. ††Rates over 30 mcg per minute have been used in advanced stages of shock. Adjust the rate of infusion based on heart rate, central venous pressure, systemic blood pressure, and urine flow. If the heart rate exceeds 110 beats…
Everything below is the FDA label for Isoproterenol Hydrochloride (injectable, solution). Isoproterenol is also sold as powder, disc, tablet and spray/inhaler, metered, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Isoproterenol Hydrochloride side effects
The following adverse reactions have been associated with use of isoproterenol. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency reliably or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Nervous system disorders : Nervousness, headache, dizziness, visual blurring Cardiovascular : Tachycardia, tachyarrhythmias, palpitations, angina, ventricular arrhythmias, Adams-Stokes attacks, pulmonary edema Respiratory : Dyspnea Other : Flushing of the skin, sweating, mild tremors, pallor, nausea Common adverse reactions with isoproterenol include tachycardia and palpitations ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-423-4136 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Who shouldn’t take Isoproterenol Hydrochloride
Isoproterenol Hydrochloride Injection, USP is contraindicated in patients with: • tachycardia • ventricular arrhythmias • angina pectoris Isoproterenol Hydrochloride Injection, USP is contraindicated in patients with: • Tachycardia ( 4 ) • Ventricular arrhythmias ( 4 ) • Angina pectoris ( 4 )
Isoproterenol Hydrochloride drug interactions
Table 1. Clinically Relevant Interactions with Isoproterenol Epinephrine Clinical Impact Both drugs are direct cardiac stimulants, and their combined effects may induce serious arrhythmias upon simultaneous administration. Intervention Isoproterenol hydrochloride injection and epinephrine should not be administered simultaneously. Drugs that may potentiate clinical response of Isoproterenol Clinical Impact The effects of isoproterenol may be potentiated by tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, levothyroxine sodium, and certain antihistamines, notably chlorpheniramine, tripelennamine, and diphenhydramine. Intervention Monitor hemodynamic parameters in patients who concurrently are taking tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, levothyroxine sodium and certain antihistamines. Adjust doses appropriately. Drugs that may reduce clinical response of Isoproterenol Clinical Impact The cardiostimulating and bronchodilating effects of isoproterenol are antagonized by beta-adrenergic blocking drugs, such as propranolol. Intervention Monitor for hemodynamic response and relief of bronchospasm and adjust dose appropriately. • Do not administer Isoproterenol Hydrochloride Injection, USP and epinephrine simultaneously due to combined effects may induce serious arrhythmias ( 7 ) • Concomitant use of tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, levothyroxine sodium and certain antihistamines; hemodynamic parameters may potentiate a clinical response of isoproterenol ( 7 ) • Beta-adrenergic blocking drugs may reduce cardiostimulating and bronchodilating effects of isoproterenol ( 7 ) See 17 for PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION.
Every isoproterenol product we track (6)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Prescription | Powder | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | 72/100 | Prescription | Disc | No data | — | View → | |
| 3 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Solution | No data | — | View → | |
| 5 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | No data | — | View → | |
| 6 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Solution | No data | — | View → |
Combination products containing isoproterenol
A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.
How long isoproterenol keeps
No isoproterenol label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
What people report to the FDA about isoproterenol
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 213 reports naming isoproterenol, and the FDA flagged 91% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- toxic epidermal necrolysis20 reports
- ventricular fibrillation13 reports
- atrial fibrillation11 reports
- torsade de pointes11 reports
- electrocardiogram qt prolonged10 reports
- bradycardia8 reports
- dyspnoea8 reports
- hypotension8 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean isoproterenol caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved September 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Isoproterenol Hydrochloride?
Isoproterenol hydrochloride is 3,4-Dihydroxy-α-[(isopropylamino)methyl] benzyl alcohol hydrochloride, a beta-adrenergic agonist and a synthetic sympathomimetic amine that is structurally related to epinephrine.
What kind of drug is isoproterenol?
The FDA classifies isoproterenol as a beta-adrenergic agonist. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take isoproterenol with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run isoproterenol against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is isoproterenol sold under?
We track 6 isoproterenol-containing products in the U.S.: Norisodrine, Norisodrine Aerotrol, Isoproterenol Hydrochloride, Aerolone, Isuprel and Vapo-Iso. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does isoproterenol come in?
Across the brands we track, isoproterenol is currently marketed as powder, disc, injectable, solution, tablet and spray/inhaler, metered, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic isoproterenol?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic isoproterenol product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Isoproterenol: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/isoproterenol
- MLA
- “Isoproterenol: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/isoproterenol.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for isoproterenol on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.