Alifedrine, a beta-adrenergic partial agonist, significantly improved performance of the failing heart. Alifedrine resulted in a significant dose-dependent increase in cardiac output. There were significant reductions in peripheral resistance, but little observed change in arterial pressure. With intravenous alifedrine, there were significant increases in stroke volume with little change in heart rate. With the 40 mg oral dose, there was a small increase in heart rate There were no clinically or statistically significant changes in arterial (non-invasive), pulmonary artery, pulmonary capillary or right atrial pressures with any dose of alifedrine. No significant arrhythmias were noted clinically with the doses studied.