epinephrine
Brand names: EpiPen, Adrenalin
Epinephrine injection is a medicine that raises blood pressure. It is used for adults with very low blood pressure due to septic shock.
Drug Shortage Alert
epinephrine is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC. Status: Available.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$14.23/unit
Generic Price
$100.76/unit
Generic Available
Yes (9 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Epinephrine injection is used to increase blood pressure in adults.
Common side effects
Headache, Anxiety, Feeling restless
Key warnings
Your blood pressure will be checked often while you are taking this medicine.
How It Works
Epinephrine works on alpha and beta receptors in your body. This causes your blood vessels to narrow and your heart to beat stronger and faster. As a result, your blood pressure increases.
How to Take It
Epinephrine will be given to you in a hospital. It is given through a vein after being mixed with a dextrose solution. The dose is based on your weight and blood pressure, starting at 0.05 mcg/kg/min and can go up to 2 mcg/kg/min. The doctor will slowly lower the dose when your blood pressure is stable.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Epinephrine may harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Epinephrine can also slow down labor.
Missed Dose
This medicine is given in a hospital, so you will not miss a dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature (68° to 77°F) and protect from light and freezing.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 35,201 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 61,536 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
61,536
Death-Related Reports
3,931
Hospitalization Reports
16,914
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 5,555 |
| 2 | HEADACHE | 4,161 |
| 3 | SINUSITIS | 3,917 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 3,761 |
| 5 | DYSPNOEA | 3,215 |
| 6 | PAIN | 3,151 |
| 7 | NAUSEA | 3,135 |
| 8 | PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE | 2,999 |
| 9 | OFF LABEL USE | 2,729 |
| 10 | COVID-19 | 2,576 |
| 11 | PNEUMONIA | 2,495 |
| 12 | COUGH | 2,114 |
| 13 | PYREXIA | 2,108 |
| 14 | NASOPHARYNGITIS | 2,089 |
| 15 | RASH | 2,018 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Your blood pressure will be checked often while you are taking this medicine. Epinephrine can raise your blood pressure too high. It can also cause fluid to build up in your lungs. Epinephrine may cause irregular heartbeats or reduce blood flow to the heart. Avoid leakage of the medicine into the tissues, as this can cause tissue damage. This medicine contains sulfite, which can cause allergic reactions.
Known Drug Interactions
If in the absence of therapeutic alternatives and emergency treatment with a contraindicated drug (e.g., linezolid, intravenous methylene blue, direct-acting sympathomimetic drugs such as epinephrine) becomes necessary and cannot be delayed, discontinue tranylcypromine tablets as soon as possible before initiating treatment with the other agent, and monitor closely for adverse reactions. Excessive reduction of blood glucose (additive effect) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.14)] ; CNS depressant agents (including opioids, alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics) Use with caution Increased CNS depress...
Mechanism: Tranylcypromine prevents the body from breaking down epinephrine, which can cause a sudden and dangerously high spike in blood pressure.
What to do: Avoid this combination unless it is a medical emergency. If used in an emergency, a doctor must monitor your blood pressure and heart rate very closely.
7.2 Drugs Metabolized by Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Drugs known to be metabolized by COMT, such as isoproterenol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, dobutamine, alpha-methyldopa, apomorphine, isoetherine, and bitolterol should be administered with caution in patients receiving entacapone regardless of the route of administration (including inhalation), as their interaction may result in increased heart rates, possibly arrhythmias, and excessive changes in blood pressure [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ].
Mechanism: Epinephrine is broken down by an enzyme that is affected by this medication. This can lead to higher levels of epinephrine in the blood, causing a fast heart rate or high blood pressure.
What to do: Use caution when taking these drugs together. Your doctor should monitor your heart rate and blood pressure for any unusual changes.
Sympathomimetics Epinephrine Norepinephrine Dopamine Can increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Succinylcholine May cause sudden extrusion of potassium from muscle cells causing arrhythmias in patients taking digoxin.
Mechanism: Both drugs affect how the heart beats, and taking them together can cause the heart to develop dangerous, irregular rhythms.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your heart rhythm closely if these drugs are used together.
Avoid the use of preparations, such as decongestants and local anesthetics, that contain any sympathomimetic amine (e.g., epinephrine, norepinephrine), since it has been reported that tricyclic antidepressants can potentiate the effects of catecholamines.
Mechanism: Imipramine can make the effects of epinephrine much stronger, which could cause a dangerous physical reaction.
What to do: Avoid using medicines or local numbing agents that contain epinephrine while you are taking imipramine.
( 7 .1) Drugs that potentiate the effects of epinephrine include sympathomimetics, beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, COMT inhibitors, clonidine, doxapram, oxytocin, levothyroxine sodium, and certain antihistamines.
Mechanism: Levothyroxine can make your heart and blood vessels more sensitive to epinephrine. This can cause the epinephrine to have a much stronger effect on your body than intended.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should watch your heart rate and blood pressure carefully if you are using both of these drugs.
Common Questions
What should I tell my doctor before taking epinephrine?
Can epinephrine cause any long-term effects?
What if my blood pressure gets too high?
Can epinephrine interact with other medications I'm taking?
Will I feel any pain when epinephrine is injected?
How long will I need to take epinephrine?
What happens if the epinephrine leaks out of the vein?
Can epinephrine cause any mental or emotional changes?
Is it safe to breastfeed while taking epinephrine?
What if I have an allergic reaction to epinephrine?
What are the common side effects of epinephrine?
Does epinephrine interact with other medications?
What drug class is epinephrine?
Is epinephrine safe during pregnancy?
Has epinephrine been recalled?
Is epinephrine currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations: Insanitary conditions including rodent exposure/activity in their distribution center.
GOLD STAR DISTRIBUTION INC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: A recent FDA inspection revealed concerns with the sterile manufacturing process.
Tailstorm Health INC
Out of specification for assay
Imprimis NJOF, LLC
Labeling; Incorrect NDC number on outer carton of product.
Focus Health Group Inc
Defective Delivery System; reports of the device failing to activate which could result in a patient not receiving medication
Meridian Medical Technologies a Pfizer Company
Related Medications in Adrenergic Agonist
Other drugs grouped near epinephrine — same-class peers and common alternatives.
adenosine
Adenocard
Adenosine (Adenocard) is a medicine used to treat certain types of irregular heartbeats.
Compare with epinephrine →
amiodarone
Cordarone, Pacerone
Amiodarone (Pacerone) is a medicine used to treat life-threatening, irregular heartbeats.
Compare with epinephrine →
atropine
AtroPen
Atropine is a medicine that can temporarily block severe effects on your body.
Compare with epinephrine →
bumetanide
Bumex
Bumetanide is a water pill (diuretic).
Compare with epinephrine →
carvedilol
Coreg
Carvedilol is a medicine that lowers blood pressure and helps your heart work better.
Compare with epinephrine →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Adrenergic Agonist
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on epinephrine
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for epinephrine
The FDA label for epinephrine (sold under brand names such as EpiPen, Adrenalin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Adrenergic Agonist class. Epinephrine injection is used to increase blood pressure in adults. Official labeling lists 13 commonly reported side effects, including Headache, Anxiety, Feeling restless.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 35,201 voluntary reports. The database also lists 28 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $100.76 versus $14.23 for the brand.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 5 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: July 30, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages