Epinephrine

The dictionary defines epinephrine as a colorless crystalline hormone, especially used medicinally as a heart stimulant, vasoconstrictor in controlling skin haemorrhages and a muscle relaxant in bronchial asthma.” Also known as adrenaline, it is produced by the adrenal glands from such amino acids as phenelalamine and tyrosine. It is released into the bloodstream apparently in response to stress—physical or mental—like that from injury or fear. Many bodily responses are also initiated by the epinephrine like the stimulation of heart action and increase in one’s blood pressure, and make the breakdown of carbohydrate-storing glycogen to glucose in the liver.

Medical Uses. Epinephrine is used to treat medical conditions like cardiac arrest, acute allergic reaction and asthma. As a drug, it takes various forms given to patients on prescription only. These forms include hydrochloride nasal spray, epinephrine injection, hydrochloride inhalation vapour, pressurized inhalation, and hydrochloride solution for injection. The nasal spray helps open up air passages to make breathing easier and smoother, especially for those with asthmatic conditions.

Side Effects and Interactions with Other Drugs. If given as a drug, epinephrine is expected to have side effects, which must be reported at once to healthcare professionals. These side effects include (a) Allergic reactions like skin itching, skin rash, and swelling of the face, (b) Chest pains or palpitations, (c) Reddening of the skin or part of it, (d) Breathing difficulty, (e) Vomiting, and (f) Numbness in the toes and fingers. It may also interact with other drugs to create irregular heartbeats if given with certain anaesthetics. Hypertension or raised high blood pressure may also occur if it is given with anti-depressants.  Physicians also advise against giving it with beta blockers and clonidine as it may result in severe hypertension.

Symptoms of Over-dosage. Epinephrine cases of overdose should be reported to medical practitioners, when symptoms are experienced such as elevated blood pressure, extreme pallor or paleness, and coldness of the skin, among others. Kidney failure is also another symptom of over-dose as headache and vomiting are. Also to be reported are experiences of metabolic acidosis or reduced alkalinity of the blood, or pulmonary edema or watery swelling, and bradycardia, or slow motion of the heart.

Indications and Usage. Epinephrine may have adverse reactions if used as medication to treat various conditions. These numerous adverse reactions include anxiety, dizziness, fear, headache, restlessness, weakness, tremor, nausea, sweating, respiratory difficulty, and even necrosis, or the death of living tissues in the body. Against these adverse reactions are the benefits that can be derived from the use of epinephrine. These include relief of respiratory problem caused by broncho-spasm, (b) Fast relief to hypersensitivity reactions to drug and allergens, and (c) Restoration of cardiac rhythm following cardiac arrest.