Details

Norepinephrine is similar to adrenaline. It works by constricting (narrowing) the blood vessels and increasing blood pressure and blood glucose (sugar) levels. Norepinephrine is used to treat life-threatening low blood pressure (hypotension) that can occur with certain medical conditions or surgical procedures. This medication is often used during CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation). Before receiving norepinephrine, tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure (hypertension) diabetes coronary artery disease circulation problems varicose veins overactive thyroid or asthma or a sulphite allergy. Norepinephrine is usually given for as long as needed until your body responds to the medication. Some people must receive norepinephrine for several days.

Typical Uses

Norepinephrine is a catecholamine with multiple roles including as a hormone and a neurotransmitter. As a stress hormone, norepinephrine affects parts of the brain where attention and responding actions are controlled. Along with epinephrine, norepinephrine also underlies the fight-or-flight response, directly increasing heart rate, triggering the release of glucose from energy stores, and increasing blood flow to skeletal muscle. Norepinephrine can also suppress neuro-inflammation when released diffusely in the brain from the locus ceruleus.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of norepinephrine include pain, burning, irritation, discoloration, or skin changes where the injection is given sudden numbness, weakness, or cold feeling anywhere in your body slow or uneven heart rate blue lips or fingernails, mottled skin little or no urinating trouble breathing problems with vision, speech, or balance or dangerously high blood pressure-severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure.

Drug Interactions

• Norepinephrine+amitriptyline- Amitriptyline should not be used with norepinephrine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.

• Norepinephrine+clomipramine- Norepinephrine should not be used with clomipramine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.

• Norepinephrine+doxepin- Doxepin should not be used with norepinephrine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.

• Norepinephrine+halothane- Ask your doctor before using halothane together with norepinephrine. Taking these drugs together can affect the rhythm of your heart. Inform your doctor if you have symptoms of irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, blurred vision, nausea, and seizures.

• Norepinephrine+isoflurane- Ask your doctor before using isoflurane together with norepinephrine. Taking these drugs together can affect the rhythm of your heart. Inform your doctor if you have symptoms of irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, blurred vision, nausea, and seizures.

Mechanism of action

Norepinephrine is synthesized from tyrosine as a precursor, and packed into synaptic vesicles. It performs its action by being released into the synaptic cleft, where it acts on adrenergic receptors, followed by the signal termination, either by degradation of norepinephrine, or by uptake by surrounding cells.

Pregnancy Category : C