Heart Clinic of Louisiana Patient Information Sheet:
Dobutamine Cardiolite Stress Test

Please wear comfortable clothing to the testing facility. You may have a light meal 3-4 hours before your test. You should not eat or drink again until after the test.

It is important that you arrive on time for your Lexiscan Cardiolite Stress test. Due to the nature of the test, there are waiting times at different stages of the test. These are a normal part of the test protocol. Your dose and scanning materials will start being prepared when you sign in.

You should plan to be in the office for 3-4 hours.

The test is given in three parts:

1. An IV will be placed in your arm. A small amount of radioisotope (radioactive material) is injected through the IV. The amount of radiation you will be exposed to is similar to that of a chest X-ray. After a waiting period, a special camera takes pictures of your heart while you remain very still.

2. After the scan, Dobutamine will be infused through the IV. This medication is used to increase your heart rate and will be continued for approximately 12 minutes or until an appropriate heart rate has been reached. At that time, a final injection of radioisotope will be injected.

3.Following a waiting period, the camera will take a second set of pictures of your heart. These pictures will allow the physician to compare the amount of blood flowing through the heart muscle during stress and at rest.

Preparation Instructions

If you are diabetic and your test is scheduled before 12 noon, you should have a light breakfast (toast & juice) and ½ of your morning insulin dose at least 3-4 hours before your appointment. For appointments after 12 noon, you may have a full breakfast with your entire morning dose of insulin.
You may have a light snack 2-3 hours before your test. Fruit juice will be available if necessary.

Please notify the nurse if you have asthma, bronchitis, or if you are currently taking Theo-dur ( theophylline) or using inhalers. If you are actively wheezing, you may need to be changed to an alternate type of test, which will be decided by the MD after lung assessment.

Do not smoke for 24 hours prior to the test.

Do not consume caffeine 12 hours prior to the test. This includes coffee, cola, tea, chocolate, or any medications containing caffeine (such as diet pills or some headache medications).

Medication Instructions

If you are taking a class of drug called beta blockers, they must be stopped for 24 hours before your stress test unless otherwise stated by your physician. If you have been prescribed any of the following medications, you must hold them for 24 hours prior to your test.

Aggrenox (Dipyridamole)
Betapace (Sotalol)
Blocadren (Timolol)
Bystolic (Nebivolol)
Cialis (Tadalafil)
Coreg (Carvedilol)
Levitra (Vardenafil)
Lopressor (Metoprolol)
Normodyne (Labetalol)
Persantine (Dipyridamole)
Propranolol
Sectral (Acebutolol)
Tenormin (Atenolol)
Theo-dur (Theophylline)
Timolide (Timolol)
Toprol (Metoprolol)
Trandate (Labetalol)
Viagra (Sildenafil)
Visken (Pindolol)
Ziac (Bisoprolol)

Take all of your other scheduled medications. Failure to follow the instructions provided on this patient information page may result in your test being rescheduled

If you have any questions, please call 349-6800. If it becomes necessary to reschedule your appointment, please do so at least 1 working day before your test by calling 349-6810.