Note: This document contains side effect information about epinephrine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Adrenalin.

Applies to epinephrine: inhalation aerosol liquid.

Serious side effects of Adrenalin

Along with its needed effects, epinephrine (the active ingredient contained in Adrenalin) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking epinephrine:

Incidence not known

• Blurred vision
• chest pain or discomfort
• confusion
• difficulty in speaking
• dizziness
• double vision
• headache
• inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
• inability to speak
• nausea
• nervousness
• pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
• pounding in the ears
• seizures
• slow or fast heartbeat
• slow speech
• sweating
• tremors
• vomiting

Other side effects of Adrenalin

Some side effects of epinephrine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

• Difficulty sleeping

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to epinephrine: compounding powder, inhalation aerosol, inhalation solution, injectable kit, injectable solution, intravenous solution, subcutaneous suspension.

General

Due to the lack of randomized, controlled clinical trials for the treatment of anaphylaxis, the true incidence of adverse reactions associated with the systemic use of this drug is difficult to determine. The most commonly reported adverse reactions include anxiety, apprehensiveness, restlessness, tremor, weakness, dizziness, sweating, palpitations, pallor, nausea and vomiting, headache, and/or respiratory difficulties.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Frequency not reported: Tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, limb/peripheral ischemia, palpitations, angina, arrhythmias, hypertension, vasoconstriction, ventricular ectopy, ventricular fibrillation, cold extremities, electrocardiogram changes, stress cardiomyopathy^[Ref]

Nervous system

Frequency not reported: Headache, paresthesia, tremor, stroke, central nervous system bleeding, dizziness, cerebral hemorrhage, memory impaired, lightheadedness, psychomotor agitation, tingling, Parkinsonism aggravated, syncope, convulsions, subarachnoid hemorrhage, hemiplegia^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Frequency not reported: Nervousness, excitability, anxiety, apprehension, restlessness, disorientation, panic, hallucinations, psychosis, fear, sleeplessness/insomnia, tenseness, confusion, irritability^[Ref]

Local

Frequency not reported: Extravasation, injection site pallor, coldness at injection site, hypoesthesia at injection site, injury at injection site, local ischemic necrosis^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Frequency not reported: Diaphoresis, pallor, piloerection, skin blanching, skin necrosis with extravasation, necrotizing fasciitis, flushing/redness of skin and face, hyperhidrosis^[Ref]

Metabolic

Frequency not reported: Hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hypokalemia, lactic acidosis, insulin secretion inhibited, metabolic acidosis, anorexia^[Ref]

Respiratory

Frequency not reported: Pulmonary edema, rales, respiratory difficulty, dyspnea, bronchospasm, hypoxia of mucosa^[Ref]

Renal

Frequency not reported: Renal insufficiency^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have been extremely unusual. Contact dermatitis has been associated with ocularly applied epinephrine (the active ingredient contained in Adrenalin) These reactions have typically presented with lid edema and a thick yellow discharge.

Gastrointestinal

Frequency not reported: Nausea, vomiting, bowel necrosis, hypersalivation^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Frequency not reported: Urinary retention, difficult micturition^[Ref]

Hematologic

Frequency not reported: Thrombocytosis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Frequency not reported: Myonecrosis^[Ref]

Other

Frequency not reported: Chest pain, weakness, gas gangrene, asthenia^[Ref]

Ocular

Frequency not reported: Corneal endothelial damage^[Ref]

Endocrine

Frequency not reported: Growth hormone secretion stimulated^[Ref]