Division of dopamine (DA) receptors and alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors into two subtypes provides a pharmacological basis for the clinical use of DA and new DA receptor agonists in anesthesia and critical care medicine. First, differential receptor activation explains why three distinct cardiovascular and renal responses can be obtained at low, medium, and high infusion rates of DA. Low infusion rates, in which DA1 and DA2 receptors are activated, are being increasingly used to improve renal perfusion and to treat oliguric states. The medium dose range (activation of beta1-adrenoceptors) is used for treatment of heart failure. The high dose range (activation of alpha-adrenoceptors) is used for treatment of shock. Second, selective DA1 and relatively selective DA2 agonists and agonists with different combinations of DA and receptor activity other than DA have been synthesized and are being investigated for the treatment of congestive heart failure and hypertension. Some of these compounds could have advantages over DA for acute therapy. Future availability of these drugs in anesthesia and critical care settings will depend to a great extent on input from anesthesiologists concerning potential new uses and willingness to conduct clinical investigations.