| epinephrine | <drug> A cardiac drug used for cardiac arrest from ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, asystole, or pulseless electrical activity; extreme hypotension; bradycardia and heart block. Pharmacologic action: 1. Beneficial mainly due to alpha stimulation - increases systemic vascular resistance and improves coronary and cerebral blood flow. 2. Value of beta stimulation is controversial - increases myocardial electrical activity and strength of contraction, but also increases myocardial oxygen requirements and automaticity. Dose: Cardiac arrest: Recommended: 1 mg IV push every 3-5 min Intermediate: 2-5 mg IV push every 3-5 min Escalating: 1 mg, 3 mg, 5 mg IV push 3 min apart High: 0.1 mg/kg IV push every 3-5 min Continuous infusion for bradycardia and severe hypotension: 2 - 10 mcg/min. Epinephrine can be delivered via the endotracheal tube. Increase dose 2-2.5 times IV dose. Potential complications: hypertension and tachycardia, arrhythmias, especially ventricular ectopy, myocardial ischemia. Synonym: adrenaline. (15 Mar 2000) |
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| epinephrine cyclase | <enzyme> Epinephrine is converted to adrenochrome Registry number: EC 1.10.3.- Synonym: catecholamine cyclase (26 Jun 1999) |
| epinephrine reversal | The fall in blood pressure produced by epinephrine when given following blockage of alpha-adrenergic receptors by an appropriate drug such as phenoxybenzamine; the vasodilation reflects the ability of epinephrine to activate beta-adrenergic receptors which, in vascular smooth muscle, are inhibitory; in the absence of alpha-receptor blockade, the beta-receptor activation by epinephrine is masked by its predominant action on vascular alpha-receptors, which causes vasoconstriction. Synonym: adrenaline reversal. (05 Mar 2000) |