Sympathomimetic (alpha + beta agonist)
Adrenaline (epinephrine)
Brand names: EpiPen, Emerade, Jext
Adult dose
Dose: Anaphylaxis: 500 micrograms IM (0.5 mL of 1 mg/mL); Cardiac arrest: 1 mg IV every 3–5 min
Route: IM/IV/Neb
Frequency: Per indication
Clinical pearls
- First-line for anaphylaxis; IM anterolateral thigh
- Resus Council ALS algorithm for cardiac arrest
Contraindications
- No absolute in life-threatening emergency
Side effects
- Tachyarrhythmia
- Hypertension
- Anxiety
- Hyperglycaemia
Interactions
- Non-selective beta-blockers
- TCAs
- MAOIs
Monitoring
- HR/BP, ECG
- Glucose if prolonged
Reference: BNF; Resuscitation Council UK 2021; NICE CG134; MHRA DSU on auto-injectors. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
- MAGGIC Heart Failure Risk Score · Heart Failure
- Long QT Syndrome (Schwartz Score) · Channelopathy / Sudden Cardiac Death
- C-Peptide to Glucose Ratio · Diabetes Classification
- International Staging System (ISS) for Multiple Myeloma · Multiple Myeloma
- Revised ISS (R-ISS) for Multiple Myeloma · Haematological Malignancy
- International Staging System for Multiple Myeloma (ISS) · Oncology
Pathways
- Paracetamol overdose · TOXBASE/NPIS; MHRA DSU 2012/2024; SNAP regimen (Lancet 2014); BNF
- TCA overdose · TOXBASE/NPIS; AACT/EAPCCT position statements; Resuscitation Council UK ALS
- Opioid overdose · TOXBASE/NPIS; Resuscitation Council UK; BNF
- Anticholinergic toxidrome · TOXBASE/NPIS; AACT/EAPCCT; BNF
- Benzodiazepine overdose · TOXBASE/NPIS; AACT/EAPCCT; BNF
- β-blocker overdose · TOXBASE/NPIS; AACT/EAPCCT; ESC; BNF