top of page

Levosimendan

Levosimendan 12.5 mg + 5%DW 250 ml (0.05 mg/ml)

Loading dose is given as an infusion over 10 minutes with the infusion rate (ml/h) below
Continuous infusion rate (ml/h)
Weight
Loading 6 ug/kg
Loading 12 ug/kg
0.05 ug/kg/min
0.1 ug/kg/min
0.2 ug/kg/min
40
29
58
2
5
10
50
36
72
3
6
12
60
43
86
4
7
14
70
50
101
4
8
17
80
58
115
5
10
19
90
65
130
5
11
22
100
72
144
6
12
24
110
158
158
7
13
26
120
173
173
7
14
29

Levosimendan 12.5 mg + 5%DW 500 ml (0.025 mg/ml)

Loading dose is given as an infusion over 10 minutes with the infusion rate (ml/h) below
Continuous infusion rate (ml/h)
Weight
loading 6 ug/kg
loading12 ug/kg
Dose 0.05 ug/kg/min
Dose 0.1 ug/kg/min
Dose 0.2 ug/kg/min
40
58
115
5
10
19
50
72
144
6
12
24
60
86
173
7
14
29
70
101
202
8
17
34
80
115
230
10
19
38
90
130
259
11
22
43
100
144
288
12
24
48
110
158
317
13
26
53
120
173
346
14
29
58

Weight descriptors for dose adjustment of ICU drugs in obese patients

Group
Drug
Recommended Dosing
Analgesic
Fentanyl
LBW [1]
Morphine
LBW [1]
Sedative
Dexmedetomidine
LBW [2]
Midazolam
LD: TBW, MD: LBW [3]
Propofol
LD: LBW, MD: TBW [1]
Vasopressor & Inotropic
Dobutamine
IBW [7]
Dopamine
IBW [7]
Epinephrine
IBW [7]
Levosimendan
TBW [8]
Milrinone
TBW [7]
Norepinephrine
IBW [7]
Beta-blocker
Esmolol
TBW [4]
Labetalol
IBW [6]
Anti-arrhythmic
Lidocaine
LBW [5]
Neuromuscular Blocking agent
Atracurium
IBW [1]
Cisatracurium
IBW [1]
Anticoagulant
Enoxaparin
TBW [7]

TBW: True body weight, LBW: Lean body weight, IBW: Ideal body weight, LD: loading dose, MD: maintenance dose

References

1) Ingrande J, Lemmens HJ. Dose adjustment of anaesthetics in the morbidly obese. Br J Anaesth. 2010 Dec;105 Suppl 1:i16-23. doi: 10.1093/bja/aeq312. PMID: 21148651.

2) Rolle A, Paredes S, Cortínez LI, Anderson BJ, Quezada N, Solari S, Allende F, Torres J, Cabrera D, Contreras V, Carmona J, Ramírez C, Oliveros AM, Ibacache M. Dexmedetomidine metabolic clearance is not affected by fat mass in obese patients. Br J Anaesth. 2018 May;120(5):969-977. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2018.01.040. Epub 2018 Mar 28. PMID: 29661414.

3) Bian L. Critical Care Pharmacotherapy. 1 st ed. the United States of America: American College of Clinical Pharmacy; 2016.

4) Kane-Gill S, Dasta J, editors. High-Risk IV Medications in Special Patient Populations [Internet]. London: Springer London 2011 [cited 2025 May 8] Available from: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-0-85729-606-1

5) Tognolini AR, Liu X, Pandey S, Roberts JA, Wallis SC, Jackson D, Eley VA. Dosing optimisation of intravenous lidocaine in patients with class 1-3 obesity by population pharmacokinetic analysis. Anaesthesia. 2025 May;80(5):511-521. doi: 10.1111/anae.16531. Epub 2025 Jan 2. PMID: 39745506.

6) Cheymol G, Poirier JM, Carrupt PA, Testa B, Weissenburger J, Levron JC, Snoeck E. Pharmacokinetics of beta-adrenoceptor blockers in obese and normal volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1997 Jun;43(6):563-70. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.1997.00609.x. PMID: 9205815; PMCID: PMC2042788.

7) Erstad BL, Barletta JF. Drug dosing in the critically ill obese patient: a focus on medications for hemodynamic support and prophylaxis. Crit Care. 2021 Feb 23;25(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s13054-021-03495-8. PMID: 33622380; PMCID: PMC7901103.

8) Simdax. Simdax SPC [Internet] 2021 [Cited 08 May 2025]. Available from: https://www.simdax.com/siteassets/simdax-spc.pdf

©2023 BY Piti Niyomsirivanich, MD. (Personal website)

 

Disclaimer

This site is designed to supplement clinical judgment and should be used alongside clinical expertise and the guidelines.

 

We assume no responsibility for how you utilize or interpret or any other information provided on this website.

Read Full Medical Disclaimer  & Privacy Policy

bottom of page