What it means
An adrenergic agonist given by IV injection, most often to treat low blood pressure caused by spinal or epidural anesthesia, including during labor. It acts on alpha and beta receptors and also makes nerve endings release norepinephrine, so it tightens blood vessels and makes the heart beat faster and harder. Its name looks and sounds like epinephrineep-ih-NEF-rinA hormone and drug, also called adrenaline, that raises heart rate and blood pressure and opens the airways.Full entry , and ISMP lists the two as names that get confused.
For the nurse
Check blood pressure and heart rate often after a dose, and in labor watch the fetal heart rate. Read the label carefully: ephedrine and epinephrine are not the same drug.
At a glance
| Drug class | adrenergic agonist (vasopressor) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Akovaz, Corphedra, Emerphed |
| Spanish | efedrina |
| Also written | Akovaz, Corphedra, Emerphed |
Easy to confuse with
epinephrine
A hormone and drug, also called adrenaline, that raises heart rate and blood pressure and opens the airways.
Related terms
hypotension
Blood pressure lower than normal, generally below 90/60 mm Hg in an adult.
epinephrine
A hormone and drug, also called adrenaline, that raises heart rate and blood pressure and opens the airways.
epidural anesthesia
Pain relief or numbness from an anesthetic drug given through a thin catheter into the space just outside the covering of the spinal cord.
norepinephrine
A hormone and nerve messenger that narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure, also given as an IV drug.