Patient/caregiver was instructed upon Adrenaline and mechanism of action as follows:
- Adrenaline is a hormone, naturally produced and released by the adrenal gland.
- Adrenaline acts by interacting with alpha and beta receptors located widely in various body tissues.
- The actions of Adrenaline depend and vary widely based on the dose administered and the receptors activated.
- Adrenaline artificially administered into the body, acting on alpha-1 receptors in the smooth muscle of blood vessels, can result in vasoconstriction and increase in blood pressure, thus helping management of hypotension.
- Adrenaline administered can act as a cardiac stimulant, by stimulating the beta-1 receptors in the heart and resulting in increased heart rate and force of contraction of the heart muscle. Increased heart rate and force of cardiac contraction can help with increasing volume of blood pumped into the circulation, thus helping management of dizziness and hypotension.
- Adrenaline can also stimulate beta-2 receptors in the smooth muscle of the respiratory tract and blood vessels, thus resulting in the relaxation of the bronchial and vascular smooth muscle. Relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle with Adrenaline can help promote better airflow, reduce wheezing and SOB, thus helping management of acute exacerbation of asthma.
