Fenoldopam is a selective dopamine agonist that is being considered for the parenteral treatment of systemic hypertension. In both an oral and parenteral form, fenoldopam causes peripheral vasodilation by stimulating dopamine-1 adrenergic receptors. Intravenous fenoldopam may provide advantages over sodium nitroprusside because it can induce both a diuresis and natriuresis, is not light sensitive, and is not associated with cyanide toxicity. There is no evidence for rebound hypertension after discontinuation of fenoldopam infusion.
