Epinephrine Side Effects

Epinephrine also known as adrenaline, is a hormone which is secreted by the center or medulla of the adrenal glands into the bloodstream, in the conditions of stress. In such excited conditions, it causes many effects in and on the body like, constriction of blood vessels, dilation of blood vessels and also increasing the blood flow to the heart and skeletal muscles. It also increases the rate of the heartbeat while the muscles of the intestine and airways relax. When epinephrine is produced in the body, it also participates in the flight or flight response of the sympathetic nervous system. Epinephrine, biochemically, is a catecholamine or a monoamine, which is produced from the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine. Although, epinephrine is supposed to be produced in the body in an abundant amount, sometimes, you have to supply it externally. Due to this, there can be a few epinephrine side effects which are observed. These are mentioned in the following paragraphs, so read on to find out.

Uses of Epinephrine

Epinephrine, when produced in less amount in the body, is a common medicine prescribed as treatment for severe allergic reactions from insect bites. Epinephrine is supplied externally when there is not enough hormone produced by the body to fight or minimize an abnormality. When a person has a severe problem of anaphylaxis (like children), it means, when a bee or an insect stings, there are substances which are released into the blood through the sting. This can cause the blood vessels to dilate, lower the blood pressure and even make you loose consciousness. This will further lead to swelling of your bronchial nerves and difficulty in breathing, eventually causing suffocation and death.

Epinephrine doses at such times, rapidly help in constriction of the blood vessels, relaxation of the bronchial muscles and help in improve the person's breathing. It also reverses the person's tissue swelling and stimulates the heartbeat. By this, it generally reverses most of the effects of anaphylaxis and thus, helps in controlling the situation to quite an extent. But when these doses are given in more than needed amounts, they can lead to many epinephrine side effects which are observed. More on what is epinephrine?

Side Effects of Epinephrine
There are many common and uncommon epinephrine side effects that are seen when it is used medically for children and adults. These are not exactly side effects but what could happen to your body, once a dose of epinephrine is consumed.

• Epinephrine side effects in children could be paleness, excessive sweating, shaking nervousness and faster heart rates.
• The blood pressure and blood glucose levels in the body may rise and you may also have headaches and nausea, even vomit.
• Dental epinephrine side effects occur when epinephrine is a constituent of a dental product used for prophylaxis. It can cause, local tissue necrosis or systemic toxicity.
• Racemic epinephrine side effects include palpitations, tachycardia symptoms, anxiety, tremors, hypertension and headaches.
• Arrhythmia and pulmonary edema may also be some of the epinephrine side effects which are commonly observed when administered in extra amounts.
• Cerebral hemorrhage may also be one of the side effects, but it is minimal and the most extreme side effect you can have. More on effects of epinephrine.

Thus, because of these epinephrine side effects for children and adults, you should make sure, what your doses are. Whenever you visit your doctor, definitely ask him what and how to administer the epinephrine doses prescribed to you. Also, make sure you know why you are taking them, as that will help you minimize these side effects.