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| Names | |
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| Trade names | Levarterenol, Levophed, Norepin, other |
| Other names | Noradrenaline (R)-(–)-Norepinephrine l-1-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-aminoethanol |
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| Clinical data | |
| Drug class | Adrenergic agonist (alpha and beta)[1] |
| Main uses | Low blood pressure[1] |
| Side effects | Headache, slow heart rate, anxiety[1] |
| Pregnancy category |
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| Routes of use | Intravenous |
| Defined daily dose | 6 mg[2] |
| Typical dose | 2 to 25 mcg/min (adults)[3] |
| External links | |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| Physiological data | |
| Target tissues | System-wide |
| Receptors | α1, α2, β1, β3 |
| Agonists | Sympathomimetic drugs, clonidine, isoprenaline |
| Antagonists | Tricyclic antidepressants, Beta blockers, antipsychotics |
| Metabolism | MAO-A; COMT |
| Legal | |
| License data |
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| Legal status | |
| Pharmacokinetics | |
| Metabolism | MAO-A; COMT |
| Excretion | Urine (84–96%) |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C8H11NO3 |
| Molar mass | 169.180 g·mol−1 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
| Density | 1.397±0.06 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 217 °C (423 °F) (decomposes) |
| Boiling point | 442.6 °C (828.7 °F) ±40.0°C |
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Norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, is a medication used to treat people with very low blood pressure.[1] It is the typical medication used in sepsis if low blood pressure does not improve following intravenous fluids.[4] It is the same molecule as the hormone and neurotransmitter norepinephrine.[1] It is given by slow injection into a vein.[1]
Common side effects include headache, slow heart rate, and anxiety.[1] Other side effects include an irregular heartbeat.[1] If it leaks out of the vein at the site it is being given, norepinephrine can result in limb ischemia.[1] If leakage occurs the use of phentolamine in the area affected may improve outcomes.[1] Norepinephrine works by binding and activating alpha adrenergic receptors.[1]
Norepinephrine was discovered in 1946 and was approved for medical use in the United States in 1950.[1][5] It is available as a generic medication.[1] The wholesale cost in the developing world as of 2015 is about 0.42 USD per vial of four milligrams.[6] In the United Kingdom this amount costs the NHS about 4.40 pounds.[7]
Norepinephrine is used mainly as a sympathomimetic drug to treat people in vasodilatory shock states such as septic shock and neurogenic shock, while showing fewer adverse side-effects compared to dopamine treatment.[8][9]
It is generally started at 2 to 4 mcg/min with titration up to 25 mcg/min.[3] The dose may be increased every two to five minutes.[3]
In children it may be used at 0.05 to 0.1 mcg/kg/min and may be increased up to 2 mcg/kg/min.[3]
The defined daily dose is 6 mg by infusion.[2]
Side effects may include anxiety, headache, shortness of breath, and an irregular heart rate.[3]
If it enters into soft tissues rather than a vein tissue death may occur.[1] This situation may be treated with phentolamine 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg (up to 10 mg) injected under the skin at the site this occurred.[3] The phentolamine should be mixed with 10 to 15 ml of normal saline.[1]
It stimulates α1 and α2 adrenergic receptors to cause blood vessel contraction, thus increases peripheral vascular resistance and resulted in increased blood pressure. This effect also reduces the blood supply to gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. Norepinephrine acts on beta-1 adrenergic receptors, causing increase in heart rate and cardiac output.[10] However, the elevation in heart rate is only transient, as baroreceptor response to the rise in blood pressure as well as enhanced vagal tone ultimately result in a sustained decrease in heart rate.[11] Norepinephrine acts more on alpha receptors than the beta receptors.[12]
Norepinephrine is the INN while noradrenaline is the BAN.
We recommend norepinephrine as the first-choice vasopressor (strong recommendation, moderate quality of evidence).
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Categories: [Cardiac stimulants] [Inotropic agents] [Norepinephrine] [Intensive care medicine] [RTT]
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