It plays a vital role in the bodys acute stress response by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system.
It can also be used as a drug due to its various important functions.
What Is Epinephrine Used For?
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Dosage delivery routes for epinephrine include intravenous, inhalation, nebulization,intramuscular injection, and subcutaneous injection.
Anaphylaxis is an acute and potentially lethal multisystem allergic reaction.
Epinephrine is commonly used to counteract the effects of severe allergic reactions.
The EpiPen, an auto-injector form of epinephrine, has been available in the USA since 1987.
It has a dose-dependent response on alpha and beta receptors that leads to different pharmacological effects in the body.
Its impact on beta-1 receptors leads to increased heart rate, myocardial contractility, and renin-release.
Epinephrine works to alleviate anaphylaxis by relaxing the smooth muscles of thebronchifound in your lungs.
How to Administer Epinephrine
Epinephrine is administered differently depending on its reason for use.
It’s important to note that epinephrine’s half-life is approximately two to three minutes.
Another route of administration is through an endotracheal tube often used in neonatal resuscitation.
When there are symptoms of anaphylaxis,epinephrine should be administered immediately,even before calling 911.
Medical expert consensus believes that there is no absolute contraindication to epinephrine administration in anaphylaxis.
Allsubsequent therapeutic interventionsdepend on the initial response to epinephrine.
Development of toxicity or inadequate response to epinephrine injections indicates that additional therapeutic modalities are necessary.
After using the epinephrine, seek medical attention right away as the effects wear off within 20 minutes.
Anaphylaxis can return, so further treatment and observation will be necessary.
Some relative contraindications include hypersensitivity to sympathomimetic drugs, closed-angle glaucoma, and anesthesia with halothane.
Another unique contraindication to be aware of is catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
Anaphylaxis Precautions
As previously stated epinephrine’s most common use is to treat acute anaphylaxis.
Proper and timely epinephrine use can be life-saving.
Anaphylaxis can be fatal so it is crucial to optimize prevention in anyone at risk of allergic disease.
Ideally, they should carry two to use in case symptoms do not decline after a few minutes.
EpiPens come in packs of two.
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