Product Description
1. What Adrenaline Injection is and what it is used for
Adrenaline (Epinephrine) belongs to a class of drugs called sympathomimetic agents.
Adrenaline injection can be used for the emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions.
2. What you need to know before Adrenaline Injection is given
Contraindications
You should not be given Adrenaline Injection if you are:
allergic to adrenaline, or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
receiving adrenaline injection in areas such as fingers, toes, ears, nose, genitalia or buttocks, as the blood supply to these areas might become inadequate.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before using Adrenaline Injection if:
• you are elderly
• you suffer from any heart problem, particularly if it affects the heart rate or if you suffer from chest pain
• you have problems with your brain e.g. stroke, brain damage or blood vessel disease
• you have an overactive thyroid, diabetes or glaucoma (high pressure in the eye)
• you have phaeochromocytoma (a tumour on the adrenal gland)
• you have low blood levels of potassium or high blood levels of calcium
• you have a tumour on your prostate gland or kidney disease
• you are in shock or have lost a lot of blood
• you are going to have a surgery under general anaesthesia
• you are suffering from high blood pressure
• you have atherosclerosis which is a narrowing and hardening of the body’s blood vessels (your doctor will advise you).
f any of the above apply to you or your child please tell your doctor before you are given this medicine.
Other medicines and Adrenaline Injection
Tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking or have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
A large number of drugs can interact with Adrenaline Injection which can significantly alter their effects. These drugs include:
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine, amitriptyline, both used for depression
• cardiac glycosides such as digoxin, used for heart failure
• guanethidine, used for the rapid control of blood pressure
• diuretics (“water tablets”) such as hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide
• inhaled general anaesthetics, such as halothane
• medicines to raise or lower your blood pressure including betablockers, e.g. propranolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, phentolamine
• anti-diabetic drugs like insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents (e.g. glipizide)
• aminophylline and theophylline (medicines to help you breathe)
• corticosteroids (medicines used to treat inflammatory conditions in your body such as asthma or arthritis)
• antihistamines (for example: diphenhydramine), used for the treatment of allergies
• medicines used to treat mental illness like chlorpromazine, pericyazine or fluphenazine
• medicines used to treat an underactive thyroid gland
• oxytocin (used to induce labour at term and to control bleeding after delivery)
• any cough or cold remedies (sympathomimetics).
If you are already taking one of these medicines, speak to your doctor before you receive Adrenaline Injection.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.
Adrenaline should only be used during pregnancy and breast-feeding if considered essential by your doctor.
Driving and using machines:
You should not drive or use machinery if you are affected
by the administration of Adrenaline Injection.Adrenaline Injection contains sodium metabisulphite
This medicine contains Sodium Metabisulphite which may cause allergic (hypersensitive) type reactions in some people, which can lead to breathing difficulties or collapse. People with a history of asthma or allergies
(hypersensitivity) are most likely to experience these
problems.
3.How Adrenaline Injection is given
Your doctor will give Adrenaline Injection to you into a muscle (Intramuscular – IM), however, in emergencies your doctor may give you a diluted injection into your
vein (intravenous – IV).
Adrenaline injection must NOT be given in areas such as fingers, toes, ears, nose, genitalia or buttocks , as the blood supply to these areas might become inadequate.
If repeated injections are required your doctor will change the site of injection.
It will be administered by a trained healthcare professional. Your doctor will decide the most suitable
dosage and route of administration for your particular
case according to your age and physical circumstances.
Adults
The usual dose is 0.5ml. If necessary, this dose may be
repeated several times at 5-minute intervals.
Elderly
There are no specific dose regimens for adrenaline
injection in elderly patients, however adrenaline should
be used with great caution.
Children
The following doses of Adrenaline Solution for Injection
are recommended:
| Age | Dose |
| Over 12 years | 0.5 mg IM (0.5ml 1mg/ml solution); 0.3 mg IM (0.3ml 1mg/ml solution) if the child is small or pre-pubertal |
| 6-12 years | 0.3 mg IM (0.3ml 1mg/ml solution) |
| 6 months-6 years | 0.15 mg IM (0.15ml 1mg/ml solution) |
| Under 6 months | 0.01mg/kg IM (0.01ml/kg 1mg/ml solution) |
If necessary, these doses may be repeated several times
at 5 – 15 minutes intervals according to blood pressure,
pulse and respiratory function.
A small volume syringe should be used.
If you think you have been given more Adrenaline
Injection more than you should.
As this medicine will be given to you whilst you are in
hospital, it is unlikely that you will be given too little or too much, however, tell your doctor or nurse if you have any concerns.
4.Possible side effects
Like all medicines Adrenaline Injection can cause side
effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of these following side effects,stop using this medicine and report to a doctor immediately:
• allergic reactions although serious allergic reactions are rare
• any sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the eyelids, face or lips, rash or itching
(especially affecting your whole body).
Other side effects (Not known: frequency cannot be
estimated from the available data):
• headache
• dizziness
• feelings of anxiety or fear or restlessness
• trembling
• insomnia, confusion, irritability
• abnormal mood or behaviour
• a dry mouth or producing too much saliva
• weakness or sweating
• changes in the rhythm and speed of the heart
• palpitation (fast or irregular heartbeat), tachycardia
(abnormally fast resting heart rate), angina (chest pain with varying intensity)
• high blood pressure
• coldness of the arms or legs
• breathlessness
• reduced appetite, feeling sick or being sick
• repeated injections may damage tissues at the site of the injection,
• difficulty of not being able to pass water
• metabolic acidosis (an imbalance of certain constituents in your blood) may occur
• bleeding in the head
• paralysis of one half of the body
• increased sugar levels in the blood
• breakdown of fat in the body
• decreased blood potassium levels
• pulmonary oedema
• chest pain (acute angina)
• heart attack (acute myocardial infarction)
• Pale appearance (Pallor)
• Passing out (syncope)
• dilation of the pupil (mydriasis)
In patients with Parkinson’s disease Adrenaline
(Epinephrine) may increase rigidity (stiffness) and tremors (shaking).
After being given this product, you may experience
slight pain, minor bruising/bleeding or some left over
liquid in the place where you have been injected
5. How to store Adrenaline Injection
Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
Store in Store at controlled room temperature (77°F or 25°C) and protect from light during storage.a dry place
- Contents of the Pack and Other Information
Adrenaline (Epinephrine) (as acid tartrate) 1mg per ml.1 ml ampoule*10 in box .
