Adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) is a potent sympathomimetic agent that acts on both alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors. It is a life-saving emergency medicine used in critical situations like anaphylaxis, cardiac arrest, and acute asthma.
Strength: 1 mg/mL
Form: Aqueous solution for injection
Route: Intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), or intravenous (IV)
🩺 Prescription / Medical Uses:
Condition
Purpose
Anaphylaxis
First-line emergency treatment
Cardiac Arrest
Restores heart rhythm during CPR
Acute Severe Asthma
Relieves bronchospasm unresponsive to standard inhalers
Severe Hypotension/Shock
Temporarily increases BP
Croup (inhalation route)
Reduces airway swelling in pediatric croup
Local anesthetic adjunct
Prolongs anesthesia by vasoconstriction
✅ Advantages:
Fast-acting and life-saving
Can be used intramuscularly (IM) in emergency kits (e.g., anaphylaxis)
Widely available in emergency and surgical settings
Increases perfusion to vital organs during shock or arrest
Can be used in combination with local anesthetics to reduce bleeding
⚠️ Precautions:
Use with extreme caution in cardiac disease, hypertension, hyperthyroidism
Avoid IV push in non-cardiac arrest cases – may cause arrhythmias
Do not inject into buttocks or digits (risk of necrosis due to vasoconstriction)
Monitor for tachycardia, arrhythmias, and hypertension
Use correct dilution based on route:
1:1000 (1 mg/mL) for IM/SC use
1:10,000 (0.1 mg/mL) for IV use (typically during resuscitation)
💊 Dosage Guidelines:
Indication
Dose (Adults)
Anaphylaxis (IM)
0.3–0.5 mg IM every 5–15 mins as needed
Cardiac Arrest
1 mg IV/IO every 3–5 mins during CPR
Asthma (SC/IM)
0.3–0.5 mg every 20 mins for up to 3 doses
Pediatric Dosing
Weight-based (0.01 mg/kg) – max 0.3 mg (IM)
💡 Storage Instructions:
Store at 15–25°C, protect from light
Check for discoloration or particles before use
Once opened, discard unused solution after a short period
👤 Patient Safety Notes:
Educate on auto-injector use if prescribed for anaphylaxis (e.g., EpiPen)
Not to be used routinely for minor allergic reactions
Emergency use only – always seek follow-up medical care
Monitor for recurrence of symptoms after initial improvement
