What IS Epinephrine?

Epinephrine is a hormone produced in the body by the adrenal glands, also known as adrenaline. It is released when we have a situation at hand that makes us get "pumped up" inside ready to fight or in a situation of extreme upset.(The old story of the mom who was able to lift the car off her toddler child was pumped up with her own body's adrenaline.)

We all know the symptoms…the pounding heart, anxiety, tremor. It increases heart rate, diverts blood to the muscles, constricts the blood vessels and opens the airways. When you give a dose of epinephrine, you are giving the body something that it is making already. You are just giving it faster and at a higher dose. What are the side effects of epinephrine? Transient and minor side effects of epinephrine can include palpitation (pounding heartbeat), pallor (paleness), dizziness, weakness, tremor (trembling), headache, throbbing, restlessness, anxiety and fear. How do I take care of a bottle of epinephrine?

Epinephrine is light sensitive so it needs to be stored in a dark place in the original bottle that is always brown OR if you want to draw up a syringe and have it ready for use, you can tape the outside of the syringe with duct tape to keep the inside medication safe..(MAKE SURE TO LABEL IT!) It needs to be stored at room temperature in a dark place. It should not be refrigerated and should not be left in an area of extreme heat or cold. You should check your bottle regularly to make sure that there is no brown dis-coloration or precipitate. You also need to keep an eye on the expiration date.
Epinephrine generally lasts for twenty minutes or less. When you give an injection of epinephrine, the immediate effect is an overall constriction of the blood vessels and a stronger, faster heartbeat. The bronchial tubes enlarge as well.

When the blood vessels get back to normal size, the swelling that is the most alarming (and life-threatening) symptom of anaphylaxis rapidly abates. Swollen airways open up, lips and tongue shrink back to normal, wheezing is replaced by easy breathing.

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