Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you and any of your caregivers who may need to inject the medication how to use an automatic injection device. Before using epinephrine, read the accompanying patient information, which includes step-by-step instructions for injection.
Epinephrine should be injected into the middle of the outer side of the thigh. In an emergency situation, epinephrine can be injected through clothing if necessary. Do not administer epinephrine to any other part of the body, including the:. A second dose of epinephrine should be injected if the initial anaphylaxis symptoms do not improve after 10 minutes of the first treatment.
Due to the severity of anaphylaxis, it is critical that people with serious allergies keep their epinephrine injection device with them or accessible at all times. Epinephrine should be injected as soon as you suspect you may be experiencing anaphylaxis symptoms. After injecting a dose of epinephrine, some solution will remain in the injection device.
This is normal and does not mean that you did not receive the full dose. Take the used device with you to the emergency room or ask your doctor or pharmacist how to dispose of used infection devices safely.
While epinephrine helps treat serious allergic reactions, it does not take the place of professional medical treatment. Immediately following an epinephrine injection, call an ambulance or go to the hospital. Severe allergies are more than an inconvenience — they can be life-threatening. Signals from the autonomic nervous system stimulate the adrenal gland to start pumping epinephrine into the bloodstream. People often refer to this surge of epinephrine as an adrenaline rush or the fight or flight response.
Epinephrine affects the heart, lungs, muscles, and blood vessels. Its release into the bloodstream brings about several physiological changes, such as:.
The adrenal medulla produces norepinephrine in response to low blood pressure and stress. Norepinephrine promotes vasoconstriction, which is a narrowing of the blood vessels, and this increases blood pressure. A rare condition called genetic dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency prevents the body from converting dopamine into norepinephrine.
According to a article , genetic dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency results from a mutation in the norepinephrine transporter gene gc. The authors concluded that this condition might decrease sympathetic nerve activity and increase the risk of damage to the heart and blood vessels. Low levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine can result in physical and mental symptoms, such as:. In addition, norepinephrine plays a role in focus and promotes periods of sustained attention.
Low levels of norepinephrine may contribute to the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD. Certain medical conditions, such as tumors, chronic stress, and obesity , can affect the adrenal glands and cause excess production of epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Symptoms of high levels of epinephrine or norepinephrine can include :. An epinephrine overdose can occur in people who use epinephrine injections to treat certain medical conditions.
An overdose of injected epinephrine can lead to dangerously high blood pressure, stroke , or even death. Synthetic forms of epinephrine and norepinephrine have several medical uses, which we discuss below:. Doctors prescribe epinephrine to treat severe medical conditions that affect the heart and airways, such as anaphylaxis.
Epinephrine counters anaphylactic shock by narrowing the blood vessels, relaxing the muscles, and opening up the airways. It is common for people at risk of anaphylaxis to carry an epinephrine autoinjector with them at all times. Doctors also use epinephrine to treat severe asthma attacks, cardiac arrest, and serious infections.
Norepinephrine can help raise systolic blood pressure in people who have had a heart attack. Norepinephrine given through an IV can help to constrict blood vessels, increasing blood pressure.
Although epinephrine can also be used for this purpose, norepinephrine is preferred due to its pure alpha receptor action. Some people with ADHD or depression take medications that stimulate or increase the release of norepinephrine, including:.
Epinephrine is used to treat anaphylaxis, cardiac arrest, and severe asthma attacks. Norepinephrine, on the other hand, is used to treat dangerously low blood pressure. In addition, medications that increase norepinephrine can help with ADHD and depression. Low levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine can contribute to a variety of physical and mental conditions, including:.
Chronic stress, poor nutrition, and taking certain medications, such as methylphenidate Ritalin , can make your less sensitive to epinephrine and norepinephrine. These factors can also cause your body to start producing less epinephrine and norepinephrine. Some medical conditions cause people to have too much epinephrine, norepinephrine, or both. These include:. Ongoing stress can also cause high levels of both epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Epinephrine and norepinephrine are very similar neurotransmitters and hormones. While epinephrine has slightly more of an effect on your heart, norepinephrine has more of an effect on your blood vessels. Getting a shot of emergency epinephrine as quickly as possible can save your life — but what should you do afterward? Many say our modern lifestyle wears out our adrenal glands, and swear adrenal extracts are the answer.
Are they right or wrong? Stroke and heart attack are medical emergencies. Recognizing the symptoms can help you quickly receive the correct treatment. Experts say there are a number of ways to make it easier to go to bed at a proper time, including when you exercise and when you eat.
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