What is Epinephrine?

Epinephrine first came into medical use in 1905, when it was used for demonstrating cerebral vasoconstriction by physiologist Carl Wiggers (Greer, 2015). Epinephrine, also called adrenaline, is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter. Epinephrine is a life-saving medication used in emergency situations to help treat severe allergic reactions and cardiac emergencies. If you’ve heard of an EpiPen, you’ve already heard of epinephrine—it’s the medication inside the device.
Understanding what epinephrine is and when it’s used is an important part of CPR and First Aid education, especially for parents, teachers, childcare providers, and healthcare workers.

When is Epinephrine used?

​Epinephrine is most commonly used to treat:
1. Severe Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis)
2. Anaphylaxis can happen quickly and may be caused by:
3. Food allergies (such as peanuts or shellfish)
4. Insect stings
5. Medications
6. Latex exposure
​
​Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, hives, vomiting, dizziness, or collapse. Epinephrine helps reverse these dangerous symptoms while emergency help is on the way.

Epinephrine is also used in cardiac emergencies. Epinephrine is the primary drug administered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to reverse cardiac arrest. Epinephrine increases arterial blood pressure and coronary perfusion during CPR via alpha-1-adrenoceptor agonist effects.

What are The Effects of Epinephrine?

​A few effects of epinephrine include increased heart rate, myocardial contractility, and renin release via β1 receptors. β2 receptor activation produces bronchodilation, which can be useful as an adjunct treatment for asthma exacerbations, as well as vasodilation, tocolysis, and increased aqueous humor production.

learn more about epinephrine?

Register for one of our ALS or ACLS courses or our ECG and Pharmacology course at Help-A-Heart CPR, LLC to learn more about the use of epinephrine and its impact on the human body. Save a life and make a difference!