What is Adrenaline for:
Adrenaline is a treatment for anaphylaxis, also known as anaphylactic shock. It can be administered to people showing signs of severe allergic reactions. Some people with known severe allergies are advised to carry adrenaline injections in case of an emergency.
Adrenaline is used to treat low cardiac output — the amount of blood the heart pumps — and in cardiac arrest. It is also used in the eye to dilate the pupil during eye surgery.
How does Adrenaline work:
It is normally produced in the body in response to anxiety or fear or to prepare us for response to external stimuli. It stimulates muscle contraction and increases the person's heart rate. In addition, by concentrating blood in the vital organs, including the heart, lungs, and brain, it helps increase the chances that the person will recover from a cardiac arrest.
It contracts the blood vessels to increase blood pressure and on the smooth muscle of the lungs assist breathing. It decreases the reaction to allergies. It works in the eye to widen the pupil during eye surgery.
How should Adrenaline be used:
Adrenaline may be given as an injection at a doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and away from pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.
Common side effects of Adrenaline :
In addition to a noticeable increase in strength and performance, this hormone causes heightened awareness and increased respiration. The person may also feel lightheaded, dizzy, and experience changes in vision. The effects can last up to an hour, depending on the situation. Though adrenaline can play a key role in the body's survival, it can also cause detrimental effects over time. Prolonged and heightened levels of the hormone can put enormous pressure on the heart muscle and can, in some cases, cause heart failure. Additionally, it may cause the hippocampus to shrink. High levels of adrenaline in the blood can lead to insomnia and jittery nerves, and are often an indicator of chronic stress.
After being given this product, you may experience slight pain, minor bruising/bleeding or some left over liquid where you have been injected. Repeated injection may cause tissue damage in the place where you have been injected. Tissue damage may also occur in the extremities (fingers and toes), kidneys and liver.
What do I do if I miss a dose
This drug is administered usually in a doctor's office or hospital.
What precautions should I take when taking Adrenaline :
You should be cautious if you are: allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the ingredients in this injection, suffering from any form of heart disease, suffering from brain damage or hardening of the arteries in the brain, suffering from glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye), having or are about to have an operation under general anaesthetic, or in the second stage of labour. Take special care if you are: suffering from high blood pressure, pregnant or breastfeeding, or diabetic.
When do I need to seek medical help
Some medical conditions may interact with epinephrine. Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have an overactive thyroid, urinary problems, an enlarged prostate, diabetes, high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, irregular heartbeat, or other heart problems.
Can I take Adrenaline with other medicines:
Please tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Medicines that may interact with the medicine include: - antihistamines (drugs used to treat allergic reactions or allergies). - drugs to treat high blood pressure, heart conditions, depression or thyroid problems. - ergot alkaloids (drugs used to treat migraine). - insulin oral hypoglycaemics (drugs used to treat diabetes). - oxytocin (used in childbirth to stimulate contractions of the uterus). - doxapram (given as an injection in hospitals to help severe breathing problems). - entacapone (for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease). - antipsychotics (for the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders).
Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
Alpha-blockers (eg, prazosin), beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), droxidopa, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), or phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine) because the risk of high or low blood pressure and fast or slow heartbeat may be increased
Bromocriptine, furazolidone, linezolid, or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the risk of side effects, such as headache, high temperature, and high blood pressure, may be increased
Antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors (eg, entacapone), digoxin, diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), levothyroxine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (eg, phenelzine), or medicines for irregular heartbeat (eg, quinidine) because they may increase the risk of Adrenalin solution's side effects
Guanethidine because its effectiveness may be decreased by Adrenalin solution.
How do I store Adrenaline :
Store Adrenalin solution at room temperature, between 15 and 25 degrees C. Do not freeze. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Adrenalin solution out of the reach of children and away from pets.
Pregnancy Category
Category C (Risk cannot be ruled out)
If you are pregnant, your doctor will advise you whether adrenaline can be given as an emergency treatment.
Therapeutic Classification
Cardiac Drugs, Other Cardiovascular Drugs
