Prescription medication · Adrenergic Agonist
epinephrine
Also sold as EpiPen, Adrenalin. Epinephrine injection is used to increase blood pressure in adults.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 61,536
- FDA reportsOften reported
- 28
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
epinephrine (EpiPen) is a prescription Adrenergic Agonist, more reported than most tracked drugs (61,536 FDA reports), with 28 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
epinephrine (EpiPen) is a prescription Adrenergic Agonist. Epinephrine injection is used to increase blood pressure in adults.
Epinephrine injection is a medicine that raises blood pressure. It is used for adults with very low blood pressure due to septic shock.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
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.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from epinephrine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 61,536 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for epinephrine, by number of reports
- Headache
Headache
4,161 reports
- Sinusitis
Sinusitis
3,917 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
3,761 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
3,215 reports
- Pain
Pain
3,151 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
3,135 reports
- Covid-19
Covid-19
2,576 reports
- Pneumonia
Pneumonia
2,495 reports
- Cough
Cough
2,114 reports
- Pyrexia
Pyrexia
2,108 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for epinephrine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where epinephrine sits
epinephrine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 77% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is epinephrine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
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
Reports Mentioning Death
3,931
6.4% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
16,914
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | HEADACHE | 4,161 |
| 3 | SINUSITIS | 3,917 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 3,761 |
| 5 | DYSPNOEA | 3,215 |
| 6 | PAIN | 3,151 |
| 7 | NAUSEA | 3,135 |
| 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 |
| 16 | PRURITUS | 1,960 |
| 17 | VOMITING | 1,884 |
| 18 | INAPPROPRIATE SCHEDULE OF PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION | 1,863 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: 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...
Mechanism: Tranylcypromine prevents the body from breaking down epinephrine, which can cause a sudden and dangerously high spike in blood pressure.
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.
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.
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.
( 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.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
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?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for epinephrine?
Has epinephrine been recalled?
Is epinephrine currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
Failed Impurities/Degradations Specifications
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
International Medication Systems Ltd.
Stability Data Does Not Support Expiry Date.
HTO Nevada Inc. dba Kirkman
CGMP Deviations: Insanitary conditions including rodent exposure/activity in their distribution center.
GOLD STAR DISTRIBUTION INC
Defective container: cracked/broken cartridges
Novocol Pharmaceutical of Canada, Inc.
Defective container: cracked/broken cartridges
Novocol Pharmaceutical of Canada, 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.
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amiodarone
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atropine
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bumetanide
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carvedilol
Coreg
Carvedilol is a medicine that lowers blood pressure and helps your heart work better.
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Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for epinephrine: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 61,536.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 6.39%.
- phentermine Δ 0.00 pts · 6,109 reports · Sympathomimetic Amine (Appetite Suppressant) 6.38%death share
- budesonide Δ 0.01 pts · 55,389 reports · Corticosteroid 6.38%death share
- latanoprost Δ 0.01 pts · 48,513 reports · Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic) 6.38%death share
- icosapent ethyl Δ 0.02 pts · 7,801 reports · Omega-3 Fatty Acid (EPA) 6.37%death share
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
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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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 61,536 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 10 recall records on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: July 30, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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