Norepinephrine

Norepinephrine treats low blood pressure, mainly in hospitalized patients. Helps patients quickly recover from being in shock.

Norepinephrine Overview

Reviewed: October 2, 2013
Updated: 

Norepinephrine is a prescription medication used to treat low blood pressure in critical situations. Norepinephrine belongs to a group of drugs called vasoconstrictors, which help to increase blood pressure in order to supply blood and oxygen to the body's tissues and organs.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of norepinephrine include headache, a drop in heart rate, and heart beat abnormalities.

 

How was your experience with Norepinephrine?

First, a little about yourself

Tell us about yourself in a few words?

What tips would you provide a friend before taking Norepinephrine?

What are you taking Norepinephrine for?

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  • Other
  • Shock

How long have you been taking it?

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  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
  • Two years or more

How well did Norepinephrine work for you?

Did you experience many side effects while taking this drug?

How likely would you be to recommend Norepinephrine to a friend?

Uses of Norepinephrine

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Norepinephrine is a prescription medication used to treat low blood pressure in critical or emergency situations.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Norepinephrine Brand Names

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Norepinephrine may be found in some form under the following brand names:

Norepinephrine Drug Class

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Norepinephrine is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Norepinephrine

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Serious side effects have been reported with norepinephrine.

Common side effects of norepinephrine include the following:

  • headache
  • a drop in heart rate
  • arrhythmias (heart beat abnormalities)
  • injury to tissues or organs due to a reduction of oxygen
  • anxiety
  • difficulty breathing

This is not a complete list of norepinephrine side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Norepinephrine FDA Warning

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IMPORTANT ― Antidote for Extravasation Ischemia: To prevent sloughing and necrosis in areas in which extravasation has taken place, the area should be infiltrated as soon as possible with 10 mL to 15 mL of saline solution containing from 5 mg to 10 mg of Regitine® (brand of phentolamine), an adrenergic blocking agent. A syringe with a fine hypodermic needle should be used, with the solution being infiltrated liberally throughout the area, which is easily identified by its cold, hard, and pallid appearance. Sympathetic blockade with phentolamine causes immediate and conspicuous local hyperemic changes if the area is infiltrated within 12 hours. Therefore, phentolamine should be given as soon as possible after the extravasation is noted.