Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Adrenaline as follows:
The side-effects of Adrenaline vary widely, based on the dose and route of administration.
Cardiovascular side-effects
- Adrenaline use can result in narrowing of blood vessels, contributing to elevated blood pressure, headache, and dizziness. This can be a serious issue, especially in individuals with history of hypertension.
- Adrenaline use can increase the cardiac performance and the pumping action of the heart, thus resulting in increased volume of blood pumped out of the heart during contraction of heart chambers. This action of Adrenaline can also contribute to acutely elevated blood pressure, thus increasing the risk for development of stroke.
- Adrenaline use may cause very rapid heart rate and can lead to even arrhythmias. In individuals with history of arrhythmias, use of Adrenaline can aggravate underlying cardiac arrhythmias leading to severe debility and death. Individuals can present with episodes of lightheadedness, dizziness, pounding heartbeat, and chest pain, due to arrhythmias secondary to Adrenaline use.
- Adrenaline use can also result in narrowing of coronary arteries, supplying oxygenated blood to the heart, thus compromising the blood supply to the heart muscle. This can result in episodes of chest pain and heart attack.
