Epinephrine[edit | edit source]

Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is a potent hormone and neurotransmitter produced primarily by the adrenal glands. It plays a crucial role in the body's acute stress response, commonly referred to as the "fight or flight" reaction. Epinephrine prepares the body to confront or flee from perceived threats by increasing heart rate, dilating airways, and mobilizing energy stores.

Overview[edit | edit source]

Structural formula of Epinephrine.

Epinephrine is synthesized in the medulla of the adrenal glands from the amino acid tyrosine. Its release is stimulated by various factors, including stress, fear, exercise, and low blood glucose levels. Once in the bloodstream, epinephrine binds to adrenergic receptors on target cells, initiating a series of physiological changes designed to enhance the body's ability to respond to a crisis.

Production and Secretion[edit | edit source]

Production of epinephrine begins with the amino acid tyrosine, which is converted through several steps into dopamine and then further converted into norepinephrine. Within the adrenal medulla, norepinephrine is converted into epinephrine. The release of epinephrine into the bloodstream is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, responding rapidly to stress signals.

Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]

Upon release, epinephrine binds to alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors throughout the body, leading to:

Increased heart rate and force of heart contractions
Dilation of airways to improve oxygen intake
Breakdown of glycogen to glucose in the liver for increased energy availability
Redistribution of blood flow from non-essential to essential organs during acute stress

Clinical Uses[edit | edit source]

Epinephrine has several important clinical applications, including:

Treatment of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, through the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen)
As a medication to prolong the effects of local anesthetics
Management of cardiac arrest to stimulate heart activity

Significance[edit | edit source]

Understanding the role and function of epinephrine is crucial for medical and physiological research. It is a key hormone in managing the body's response to stress and has significant implications for treating various conditions, including life-threatening allergic reactions and heart conditions.

References[edit | edit source]

Placeholder for references. Use the format: ^[1]

External Links[edit | edit source]

[Placeholder for link to detailed information on Epinephrine from the National Institutes of Health]
[Placeholder for link to an article on the clinical uses of Epinephrine]

Other names[edit | edit source]

Also called adrenaline

Epinephrine Resources
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v t e Adrenergic receptor modulators
α₁	Agonists: 6-FNE Amidephrine Anisodine Buspirone Cirazoline Corbadrine Desglymidodrine Dexisometheptene Dipivefrine Dopamine Droxidopa (L-DOPS) Ephedrine Epinephrine Etilefrine Etilevodopa Ethylnorepinephrine Indanidine Isometheptene L-DOPA (levodopa) L-Phenylalanine L-Tyrosine Melevodopa Metaraminol Methoxamine Methyldopa Midodrine Naphazoline Norepinephrine Octopamine Oxymetazoline Phenylephrine Phenylpropanolamine Pseudoephedrine Synephrine Tetryzoline Tiamenidine XP21279 Xylometazoline Antagonists: Abanoquil Adimolol Ajmalicine Alfuzosin Amosulalol Anisodamine Arotinolol Atiprosin Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., brexpiprazole, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone) Benoxathian Buflomedil Bunazosin Carvedilol Corynanthine Dapiprazole Domesticine Doxazosin Ergolines (e.g., ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, lisuride, terguride) Etoperidone Eugenodilol Fenspiride Hydroxyzine Indoramin Ketanserin L-765,314 Labetalol mCPP Mepiprazole Metazosin Monatepil Moxisylyte Naftopidil Nantenine Neldazosin Niaprazine Nicergoline Niguldipine Pardoprunox Pelanserin Perlapine Phendioxan Phenoxybenzamine Phentolamine Phenylpiperazine antidepressants (e.g., hydroxynefazodone, nefazodone, trazodone, triazoledione) Piperoxan Prazosin Quinazosin Quinidine Ritanserin Silodosin Spiperone Talipexole Tamsulosin Terazosin Tiodazosin Tolazoline Tetracyclic antidepressants (e.g., amoxapine, maprotiline, mianserin) Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, clomipramine, doxepin, imipramine, trimipramine) Trimazosin Typical antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, loxapine, thioridazine) Urapidil WB-4101 Zolertine
α₂	Agonists: (R)-3-Nitrobiphenyline 4-NEMD 6-FNE Amitraz Apraclonidine Brimonidine Cannabivarin Clonidine Corbadrine Detomidine Dexmedetomidine Dihydroergotamine Dipivefrine Dopamine Droxidopa (L-DOPS) Etilevodopa Ephedrine Ergotamine Epinephrine Etilefrine Ethylnorepinephrine Guanabenz Guanfacine Guanoxabenz L-DOPA (levodopa) L-Phenylalanine L-Tyrosine Lofexidine Medetomidine Melevodopa Methyldopa Mivazerol Naphazoline Norepinephrine Oxymetazoline Phenylpropanolamine Piperoxan Pseudoephedrine Rezatomidine Rilmenidine Romifidine Talipexole Tasipimidine Tetrahydrozoline Tiamenidine Tizanidine Tolonidine Urapidil Vatinoxan XP21279 Xylazine Xylometazoline Antagonists: 1-PP Adimolol Amesergide Aptazapine Atipamezole Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., asenapine, brexpiprazole, clozapine, lurasidone, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone, zotepine) Azapirones (e.g., buspirone, gepirone, ipsapirone, tandospirone) BRL-44408 Buflomedil Cirazoline Efaroxan Esmirtazapine Fenmetozole Fluparoxan Idazoxan mCPP Mianserin Mirtazapine NAN-190 Pardoprunox Phentolamine Phenoxybenzamine Piperoxan Piribedil Rauwolscine Rotigotine SB-269970 Setiptiline Spiroxatrine Sunepitron Tolazoline Typical antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, loxapine, thioridazine) Yohimbine
β	Agonists: Abediterol Alifedrine Amibegron Arbutamine Arformoterol Arotinolol BAAM Bambuterol Befunolol Bitolterol Broxaterol Buphenine Carbuterol Carmoterol Cimaterol Clenbuterol Colterol Corbadrine Denopamine Dipivefrine Dobutamine Dopamine Dopexamine Droxidopa (L-DOPS) Ephedrine Epinephrine Etafedrine Etilefrine Etilevodopa Ethylnorepinephrine Fenoterol Formoterol Hexoprenaline Higenamine Indacaterol Isoetarine Isoprenaline Isoxsuprine L-DOPA (levodopa) L-Phenylalanine L-Tyrosine Levosalbutamol Mabuterol Melevodopa Methoxyphenamine Methyldopa Mirabegron Norepinephrine Orciprenaline Oxyfedrine PF-610355 Phenylpropanolamine Pirbuterol Prenalterol Ractopamine Procaterol Pseudoephedrine Reproterol Rimiterol Ritodrine Salbutamol Salmeterol Solabegron Terbutaline Tretoquinol Tulobuterol Vilanterol Xamoterol XP21279 Zilpaterol Zinterol Antagonists: Acebutolol Adaprolol Adimolol Afurolol Alprenolol Alprenoxime Amosulalol Ancarolol Arnolol Arotinolol Atenolol Befunolol Betaxolol Bevantolol Bisoprolol Bopindolol Bornaprolol Brefonalol Bucindolol Bucumolol Bufetolol Bufuralol Bunitrolol Bunolol Bupranolol Butaxamine Butidrine Butofilolol Capsinolol Carazolol Carpindolol Carteolol Carvedilol Celiprolol Cetamolol Cicloprolol Cinamolol Cloranolol Cyanopindolol Dalbraminol Dexpropranolol Diacetolol Dichloroisoprenaline Dihydroalprenolol Dilevalol Diprafenone Draquinolol Ecastolol Epanolol Ericolol Ersentilide Esatenolol Esprolol Eugenodilol Exaprolol Falintolol Flestolol Flusoxolol Hydroxycarteolol Hydroxytertatolol ICI-118,551 Idropranolol Indenolol Indopanolol Iodocyanopindolol Iprocrolol Isoxaprolol Isamoltane Labetalol Landiolol Levobetaxolol Levobunolol Levomoprolol Medroxalol Mepindolol Metipranolol Metoprolol Moprolol Nadolol Nadoxolol Nebivolol Nifenalol Nipradilol Oxprenolol Pacrinolol Pafenolol Pamatolol Pargolol Penbutolol Pindolol Practolol Primidolol Procinolol Pronethalol Propafenone Propranolol Ridazolol Ronactolol Soquinolol Sotalol Spirendolol SR 59230A Sulfinalol Talinolol Tazolol Tertatolol Tienoxolol Tilisolol Timolol Tiprenolol Tolamolol Toliprolol Xibenolol Xipranolol
See also	List of adrenergic drugs

v t e Phenethylamines
Phenethylamines	Psychedelics: 25B-NBOMe 25C-NBOMe 25D-NBOMe 25I-NBOMe 25N-NBOMe 2C-B 2C-B-AN 2C-Bn 2C-Bu 2C-C 2C-CN 2C-CP 2C-D 2C-E 2C-EF 2C-F 2C-G 2C-G-1 2C-G-2 2C-G-3 2C-G-4 2C-G-5 2C-G-6 2C-G-N 2C-H 2C-I 2C-iP 2C-N 2C-NH2 2C-O 2C-O-4 2C-P 2C-Ph 2C-SE 2C-T 2C-T-2 2C-T-3 2C-T-4 2C-T-5 2C-T-6 2C-T-7 2C-T-8 2C-T-9 2C-T-10 2C-T-11 2C-T-12 2C-T-13 2C-T-14 2C-T-15 2C-T-16 2C-T-17 2C-T-18 2C-T-19 2C-T-20 2C-T-21 2C-T-22 2C-T-22.5 2C-T-23 2C-T-24 2C-T-25 2C-T-27 2C-T-28 2C-T-30 2C-T-31 2C-T-32 2C-T-33 2C-TFE 2C-TFM 2C-YN 2C-V Allylescaline DESOXY Escaline Isoproscaline Jimscaline Macromerine MEPEA Mescaline Metaescaline Methallylescaline Proscaline Psi-2C-T-4 TCB-2 Stimulants: Phenylethanolamine Hordenine Phenethylamine Phenpromethamine α-Methylphenethylamine (amphetamine) β-Methylphenethylamine m-Methylphenethylamine N-Methylphenethylamine o-Methylphenethylamine p-Methylphenethylamine Methylphenidate Entactogens: Lophophine MDPEA MDMPEA Others: BOH DMPEA
Amphetamines	Psychedelics: 3C-AL 3C-BZ 3C-E 3C-MAL 3C-P Aleph Beatrice Bromo-DragonFLY D-Deprenyl DMA DMCPA DMMDA DOB DOC DOEF DOET DOI DOM DON DOPR DOTFM Ganesha MMDA MMDA-2 Psi-DOM TMA TeMA ZDCM-04 Stimulants: 2-FA 2-FMA 3-FA 3-FMA Acridorex Alfetamine Amfecloral Amfepentorex Amphetamine (Dextroamphetamine, Levoamphetamine) Amphetaminil Benfluorex Benzphetamine Cathine Clobenzorex Dimethylamphetamine Ephedrine Etilamfetamine Fencamfamin Fencamine Fenethylline Fenfluramine (Dexfenfluramine, Levofenfluramine) Fenproporex Flucetorex Fludorex Formetorex Furfenorex Gepefrine 4-Hydroxyamphetamine Iofetamine Isopropylamphetamine Lefetamine Lisdexamfetamine Mefenorex Metaraminol Methamphetamine (Dextromethamphetamine, Levomethamphetamine) Methoxyphenamine MMA Morforex Norfenfluramine L -Norpseudoephedrine N,alpha-Diethylphenylethylamine Oxifentorex Oxilofrine Ortetamine PBA PCA PFA PFMA PIA PMA PMEA PMMA Phenylpropanolamine Pholedrine Prenylamine Propylamphetamine Pseudoephedrine Sibutramine Tiflorex Tranylcypromine Xylopropamine Zylofuramine Entactogens: 4-FA 4-FMA 4-MA 4-MMA 4-MTA 5-APB 5-APDB 5-EAPB 5-IT 5-MAPB 5-MAPDB 6-APB 6-APDB 6-Chloro-MDMA 6-EAPB 6-IT 6-MAPB 6-MAPDB EDA IAP 2,3-MDA 3,4-MDA (tenamfetamine) MDEA MDHMA MDMA (midomafetamine) MDOH Methamnetamine MMDMA Naphthylaminopropane TAP Others: 3,4-DCA Amiflamine DiFMDA Selegiline (also D -Deprenyl)
Phentermines	Stimulants: Chlorphentermine Cloforex Clortermine Etolorex Mephentermine Pentorex Phentermine Entactogens: MDPH MDMPH Others: Cericlamine
Cathinones	Stimulants: 3-FMC 4-MC 4-BMC 4-CMC 4-EMC 4-FMC 4-MEC 4-MeMABP 4-MPD Amfepramone Benzedrone Brephedrone Buphedrone Bupropion Cathinone Dimethylcathinone Ethcathinone Eutylone Hydroxybupropion Methcathinone Methedrone NEB N-Ethylhexedrone N-Ethylpentedrone Pentedrone Pentylone Radafaxine Entactogens: 3,4-DMMC 3-MMC Butylone Ethylone Methylone Methylenedioxycathinone Mephedrone
Phenylisobutylamines	Entactogens: 4-CAB 4-MAB Ariadne BDB Butylone EBDB Eutylone MBDB Stimulants: Phenylisobutylamine
Phenylalkylpyrrolidines	Stimulants: α-PBP α-PHP α-PPP α-PVP MDPBP MDPPP MDPV 4-MePBP 4-MePHP 4-MePPP MOPPP MOPVP MPBP MPHP MPPP Naphyrone PEP Prolintane Pyrovalerone
Catecholamines (and close relatives)	6-FNE 6-OHDA a-Me-DA a-Me-TRA Adrenochrome Ciladopa D -DOPA (Dextrodopa) Dimetofrine Dopamine Epinephrine Epinine Etilefrine Ethylnorepinephrine Fenclonine Ibopamine Isoprenaline Isoetarine L -DOPA (Levodopa) L -DOPS (Droxidopa) L -Phenylalanine L -Tyrosine m-Tyramine Metanephrine Metaraminol Metaterol Metirosine Methyldopa N,N-Dimethyldopamine Nordefrin (Levonordefrin) Norepinephrine Norfenefrine (m-Octopamine) Normetanephrine Orciprenaline p-Octopamine p-Tyramine Phenylephrine Synephrine
Miscellaneous	AL-LAD Amidephrine Arbutamine Cafedrine Denopamine Desvenlafaxine Diphenidine Dizocilpine Dobutamine Dopexamine Ephenidine Etafedrine ETH-LAD Famprofazone Fluorolintane Hexapradol IP-LAD Lysergic acid amide Lysergic acid 2-butyl amide Lysergic acid 2,4-dimethylazetidide Lysergic acid diethylamide Methoxamine Methoxphenidine MT-45 PARGY-LAD Phenibut PRO-LAD Pronethalol Salbutamol (Levosalbutamol) Solriamfetol Theodrenaline Thiamphenicol UWA-101 Venlafaxine

Epinephrine