Molecular Structure of Epinephrine
Epinephrine
, also known as
adrenaline
,
[1]
is a
hormone
and a
medication
. The names "adrenaline" and "epinephrine" come from the
Latin
words
ad
-+
renes
and the
Greek
words
epi
-+
nephros.
Both mean "into or onto the
kidney
" (adrenaline is made in the
adrenal glands
, which sit on top of the kidneys
[2]
). In medical
jargon
, epinephrine is shortened to just "epi" (
pronounced
eh-pee).
The hormone was first isolated and purified in 1901 by
Japanese
chemist
Jokichi Takamine
.
[3]
It was
patented
in the United States with the name "adrenaline."
[1]
Epinephrine is one of two
chemical messengers
that control the
sympathetic nervous system
and cause the
"fight or flight" response
.
[4]
Epinephrine makes the "fight or flight" response kick in, and causes changes in every part of the body. For example, it:
[5]
Because epinephrine causes so many changes in the body, it can cause changes that make a person feel bad. Sometimes, it can cause changes that could be dangerous. These are called
adverse effects
. They include:
[6]
Epinephrine is used to treat a few different medical problems.
Epinephrine can restart a person's heart when they are in
cardiac arrest
(their heart has stopped beating).
[7]
It can make the heart start pumping
blood
to the rest of the body again.
Epinephrine is the best medicine to treat
anaphylaxis
, which is a very bad allergic reaction.
[8]
During anaphylaxis, the bronchi (which bring air to the lungs) get narrower and narrower until the person cannot
breathe
. Epinephrine makes the bronchi get wider so air can get into the lungs and the person can breathe again. It also treats some of the other
symptoms
of anaphylaxis.
People with
allergies
can get a
doctor's
prescription
for an epinephrine "auto-injector." Anyone can learn to use an auto-injector. If a person starts having anaphylaxis, they just press the auto-injector to the outside of their thigh, and the device will automatically
inject
the right dose of epinephrine into the person's thigh.
[6]
Epinephrine can be given for
asthma
attacks, if regular asthma medications like
albuterol
do not work.
[9]
[10]
The epinephrine will relax the muscles around the lungs and widen the bronchi, making it easier to breathe.
[11]
Croup
is a disease that mostly happens in children, and is caused by a virus. It can cause
swelling
in the
throat
, which can make it hard to breathe. Epinephrine can help bring this swelling down, which makes it easier for the child to breathe. Epinephrine works best for croup if it is breathed in, so it is made into a special
mist
that can be inhaled.
[12]
- ↑
1.0
1.1
Aronson, Jeffrey K.
"'Where name and image meet'?the argument for 'adrenaline',"
British Medical Journal
(BMJ). 19 February 2000, Vol. 320, Issue 2733, pp. 506-509; retrieved 2012-11-15.
- ↑
Chansky, Michael Lieberman, Allan Marks, Alisa Peet ; illustrations by Matthew (2013).
Marks' basic medical biochemistry : a clinical approach
(4 ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 175.
ISBN
9781608315727
.
{{
cite book
}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link
)
- ↑
Wermuth, Camille Georges (2008).
The practice of medicinal chemistry
(3 ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press. p. 13.
ISBN
9780080568775
.
- ↑
Khurana (2008).
Essentials of Medical Physiology
. Elsevier India. p. 460.
ISBN
9788131215661
.
- ↑
Bell, David R. (2009).
Medical physiology : principles for clinical medicine
(3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 312.
ISBN
9780781768528
.
- ↑
6.0
6.1
"Epinephrine"
.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
. Retrieved
Aug 15,
2015
.
- ↑
Lin, S; Callaway, CW; Shah, PS; Wagner, JD; Beyene, J; Ziegler, CP; Morrison, LJ (June 2014). "Adrenaline for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest resuscitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials".
Resuscitation
.
85
(6): 732?40.
doi
:
10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.03.008
.
PMID
24642404
.
- ↑
ECC Committee, Subcommittees and Task Forces of the American Heart Association (2005). "2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Part 10.6: Anaphylaxis".
Circulation
.
112
(24 suppl): IV?143?IV?145.
doi
:
10.1161/circulationaha.105.166568
.
- ↑
Soar, Perkins, et al (2010) European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2010 Section 8. Cardiac arrest in special circumstances: Electrolyte abnormalities, poisoning, drowning, accidental hypothermia, hyperthermia, asthma, anaphylaxis, cardiac surgery, trauma, pregnancy, electrocution. Resuscitation. Oct. pp.1400?1433
- ↑
Fisher, Brown, Cooke (Eds) (2006) Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee. UK Ambulance Clinical Practice Guidelines.
- ↑
"Childhood Asthma: Symptoms & Treatments"
. www.filterbuy.com
. Retrieved
21 April
2016
.
- ↑
Everard ML (February 2009).
"Acute bronchiolitis and croup"
.
Pediatr. Clin. North Am
.
56
(1): 119?33, x?xi.
doi
:
10.1016/j.pcl.2008.10.007
.
PMID
19135584
.