norepinephrine Side Effects
Also known as: Levophed
Analysis of 10,232 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2004 to 2025.
Total Reports
10,232
Death-Related
3,288
32.1% of reports
Hospitalizations
5,663
55.3% of reports
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Most Reported Adverse Reactions
Who Reports Side Effects
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Reporting Trend by Year
Reactions in Death Reports
Top reactions reported in 3,288 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 955 |
| MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME | 565 |
| SEPSIS | 428 |
| OFF LABEL USE | 422 |
| HYPOTENSION | 344 |
| CARDIAC ARREST | 312 |
| DEATH | 312 |
| CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 305 |
| ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 300 |
| SEPTIC SHOCK | 274 |
| CARDIOGENIC SHOCK | 269 |
| TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 264 |
| GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION | 244 |
| VOMITING | 244 |
| ABDOMINAL PAIN | 240 |
| ASCITES | 230 |
| NAUSEA | 229 |
| ABDOMINAL DISTENSION | 226 |
| HYPONATRAEMIA | 214 |
| APPENDICITIS | 210 |
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Top reactions in 5,663 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,646 |
| HYPOTENSION | 714 |
| OFF LABEL USE | 606 |
| TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 519 |
| ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 489 |
| MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME | 388 |
| CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 357 |
| CARDIOGENIC SHOCK | 339 |
| CARDIAC ARREST | 327 |
| INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE | 318 |
| SEPSIS | 304 |
| SEPTIC SHOCK | 284 |
| DRUG INTERACTION | 263 |
| LACTIC ACIDOSIS | 260 |
| SHOCK | 255 |
| OVERDOSE | 249 |
| PNEUMONIA | 244 |
| RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 239 |
| METABOLIC ACIDOSIS | 236 |
| BRADYCARDIA | 210 |
Nearby — Related Medications
What the FAERS Data Reveals About norepinephrine Side Effects
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 10,232 voluntary reports linked to norepinephrine and its brand equivalents (Levophed), spanning 2004 through 2025. Of those, 3,288 (32.1%) listed death as an outcome and 5,663 (55.3%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Product Used For Unknown Indication.
Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 45% were female and 55% male; age distribution skews toward 45-64, with 2,959 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is drug ineffective with 2,373 submissions, followed by off label use and hypotension.
FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.