Adrenalin (epinephrine) is a chemical that narrows blood vessels and opens airways in the lungs. These effects can reverse severe low blood pressure, wheezing, severe skin itching, hives, and other symptoms of an allergic reaction. An injection of adrenalin is used to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to insect stings or bites, foods, drugs, and other allergens.
Before using Adrenalin a second time, tell your doctor if your first injection caused serious side effects such as increased breathing difficulty, or dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).
Dosage for Adrenalin
Adrenalin is available in many different injectable forms including auto-injector systems that can be carried by those who are prone to serious allergic reactions. The dose for adults and children 30 kg (66 lbs) or more is 0.3 to 0.5 mg (0.3 mL to 0.5 mL) of undiluted Adrenalin administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh, up to a maximum of 0.5 mg (0.5 mL) per injection, repeated every 5 to 10 minutes as necessary.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Adrenalin?
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using Adrenalin. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Additional Information
Our Adrenalin Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Adrenalin Consumer Information
Before using epinephrine, tell your doctor if any past use of this medicine caused an allergic reaction to get worse.
Call your doctor at once if you notice pain, swelling, warmth, redness, or other signs of infection around the area where you gave an injection.
Side effects may be more likely in older adults.
Common side effects may include:
breathing problems;
fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats;
pale skin, sweating;
nausea and vomiting;
dizziness;
weakness or tremors;
headache; or
feeling restless, fearful, nervous, anxious, or excited.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Common adverse reactions to systemically administered
epinephrine include anxiety, apprehensiveness, restlessness, tremor, weakness,
dizziness, sweating, palpitations, pallor, nausea and vomiting, headache, and
respiratory difficulties. These symptoms occur in some persons receiving
therapeutic doses of epinephrine, but are more likely to occur in patients with
heart disease, hypertension, or hyperthyroidism [see WARNINGS AND
PRECAUTIONS].
The true incidence of adverse reactions associated with
the systemic use of epinephrine is difficult to determine. Adverse reactions
reported in observational trials, case reports, and studies are listed below by
body system:
Cardiovascular: angina, arrhythmias, hypertension,
pallor, palpitations, tachyarrhythmia, tachycardia, vasoconstriction,
ventricular ectopy and stress cardiomyopathy. Rapid rises in blood pressure
associated with epinephrine use have produced cerebral hemorrhage, particularly
in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease [see WARNINGS AND
PRECAUTIONS].
Patients with Parkinson's disease may experience
psychomotor agitation or a temporary worsening of symptoms [see WARNINGS AND
PRECAUTIONS].
Diabetic patients may experience transient increases in
blood sugar.
Injection into the buttock has resulted in cases of gas
gangrene [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Rare cases of serious skin and soft tissue infections,
including necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis caused by Clostridia (gas
gangrene), have been reported following epinephrine injection in the thigh [see
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
&Copy; Adrenalin Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Adrenalin Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.
