This is a vasodilator with some alpha adrenergic blocking properties.

Indications: reduction of pulmonary artery pressure in persistent pulmonary hypertension in new-born infants with persistent foetal circulation.

Cautions: coronary artery disease, hypotension, after cerebrovascular accident; peptic ulceration; mitral stenosis.

Side Effects: pilo-erection, headache, flushing, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, tingling, shivering, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and epigastric pain; orthostatic hypotension or marked hypertension; blood dyscrasias; may cause disulfiram-like reaction if given with alcohol; hypochloraemic metabolic alkalosis, acute renal failure and duodenal perforations have been reported in infants given tolazoline.

Dose: adults, subcutaneously, intra-muscularly, intravenously or by slow intra-arterial injection, up to 50 mg.

Infants, 1 to 2 mg/kg body weight over 10 minutes by intravenous infusion followed by 1 to 2 mg per kg per hour thereafter.