Norepinephrine
Brand Names
Levophed, Bitartrate, NorepinephrineWhat is Norepinephrine
Norepinephrine is a medication used to treat life-threatening low blood pressure (hypotension) that can occur with certain medical conditions or surgical procedure. This medication is similar to adrenaline. It works by narrowing the blood vessels and increasing blood pressure and blood glucose (sugar) levels.
Side effects of Norepinephrine
There are many serious side effects that may be caused by Norepinephrine:
- muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, nausea with vomiting
- fast, slow, or uneven heart rate
- blue lips or fingernails, mottled skin
- urinating less than usual or not at all
- irritation of the skin or vein where the medicine is injected
- sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
- sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech or balance
Indication
Norepinephrine treats hypotension. Norepinephrine interacts with alpha receptors. It causes the restriction of blood vessels increasing blood pressure to normal levels. Norepinephrine can also be administered to treat cardiac arrest or heart attack.
Precautions
Before using Norepinephrine inform your doctor if you have:
- any allergies
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- overactive thyroid
- asthma or a sulfite allergy
Dosage forms
The initial dose of Norepinephrine for hypotension in adults is 2 to 4 mcg/min, the maintenance dose is usually 80 to 100 mm Hg. The initial adult dose for shock is 2 to 4 mcg/min.
