ADRENALINE is the secretion of the adrenal medulla (see adrenal glands). Its effect is similar to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system as occurs when a person is excited, shocked or frightened. In the United States Pharmocopoeia it is known as epinephrine. It is also prepared synthetically. Among its important effects are raising of the blood pressure, increasing the amount of glucose in the blood, and constricting the smaller blood-vessels.
It has an important use when
injected intramuscularly or intravenously in the treatment of anaphylaxis, and it may be applied
directly to wounds, on gauze or lint, to check haemorrhage. Injected along with
some local anaesthetic, it permits painless, bloodless operations to be
performed on the eye, nose, etc. It is rarely, if ever, used nowadays
hypo-dermically and is no longer given to treat asthma. In severe cardiac
arrest adrenaline (
