Epinephrine

alpha-Adrenergic Agonist — ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM

Key facts

Epinephrine is an ofp drug in the alpha-Adrenergic Agonist class catalogued in DrugCentral. It was first approved by the FDA in 1948. Its mechanism of action is classified as Adrenergic alpha-Agonists and Adrenergic beta-Agonists. DrugCentral lists 24 molecular targets, including Adra2b|Adra2c|Adra2a, ADRA1D and ADRA2A. Recorded indications include Acute exacerbation of asthma, Administration of Local Anesthetic Nerve Block, Allergic Reactions and Anaphylaxis.

• Approval status: ofp (first approved 1948 by the FDA).
• Drug class: alpha-Adrenergic Agonist; beta-Adrenergic Agonist.
• Mechanism of action: Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Adrenergic beta-Agonists.
• Molecular targets: Adra2b|Adra2c|Adra2a, ADRA1D, ADRA2A and ADRB3 (24 listed in DrugCentral).
• Indications: Acute exacerbation of asthma, Administration of Local Anesthetic Nerve Block, Allergic Reactions, Anaphylaxis and Asthma management and others.
• ATC code: A01AD01 (Other agents for local oral treatment).
• Molecular formula: C9H13NO3; molecular weight 183.21 g/mol.

Indications & contraindications

Drug–disease relationships curated by DrugCentral (OMOP / SNOMED concepts).

Indications (15)

• Acute exacerbation of asthma
• Administration of Local Anesthetic Nerve Block
• Allergic Reactions
• Anaphylaxis
• Asthma management
• Bronchiectasis
• Bronchitis
• Dyspnea
• Exacerbation of asthma
• Hypotension associated with septic shock
• Local anesthesia, by infiltration
• Low blood pressure
• Open-angle glaucoma
• Pulmonary emphysema
• Wheezing

Off-label uses (4)

• Asthma
• Cardiac arrest
• Local anesthesia
• Ventricular fibrillation

Contraindications (56)

• Acute nephropathy
• Angina pectoris
• Angle-closure glaucoma
• Anterior uveitis
• Aphakia
• Atrial fibrillation
• Bacterial septicemia
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Bleeding
• Bradycardia
• Cardiogenic shock
• Cerebral arteriosclerosis
• Chronic heart failure
• Chronic myocardial ischemia
• Complete atrioventricular block
• Conduction disorder of the heart
• Decreased respiratory function
• Deficiency of cholinesterase
• Denuded skin
• Diabetes mellitus
• Disease of liver
• Disorder of cardiovascular system
• Disorder of coronary artery
• Heart block
• Hepatic failure
• Hypercapnia
• Hypertensive disorder
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypokalemia
• Hypovolemia
• + 26 more

Mechanism & targets

• Mechanism of action (MoA): Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Adrenergic beta-Agonists
• Established pharmacologic class: alpha-Adrenergic Agonist; beta-Adrenergic Agonist; Catecholamine

Molecular targets (24)

Target	Gene	Action	Activity
Adrenergic receptor alpha-2	Adra2b|Adra2c|Adra2a	unknown	Ki 7.89
Alpha-1D adrenergic receptor	ADRA1D	agonist	Ki 6.66
Alpha-2A adrenergic receptor	ADRA2A	agonist	Ki 6.56
Beta-3 adrenergic receptor	ADRB3	agonist	EC50 6.50
Alpha-1B adrenergic receptor	ADRA1B	agonist	Ki 6.50
Alpha-2C adrenergic receptor	ADRA2C	agonist	Ki 6.45
Alpha-2B adrenergic receptor	ADRA2B	agonist	Ki 6.40
Alpha-1D adrenergic receptor	Adra1d	agonist	Ki 6.30
Alpha-1A adrenergic receptor	Adra1a	unknown	IC50 6.20
Beta-2 adrenergic receptor	ADRB2	agonist	Kd 6.20
Beta-2 adrenergic receptor	ADRB2	unknown	Ki 6.18
Beta-2 adrenergic receptor	Adrb2	unknown	Ki 6.14
D(2) dopamine receptor	DRD2	unknown	Ki 6.04
Alpha-1B adrenergic receptor	Adra1b	unknown	Ki 6.01
Beta-1 adrenergic receptor	Adrb1	unknown	Ki 5.96
Alpha-1A adrenergic receptor	ADRA1A	agonist	Ki 5.70
M18 aspartyl aminopeptidase	—	unknown	IC50 5.52
Beta-1 adrenergic receptor	ADRB1	unknown	Ki 5.52
Arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase	ALOX15	unknown	IC50 5.48
Sodium-dependent noradrenaline transporter	SLC6A2	unknown	Ki 5.43

Regulatory approvals (1)

Date	Agency	Marketed as	Applicant	Orphan
1948-11-19	FDA	—	—

ATC classification

ATC code	Therapeutic hierarchy
A01AD01	ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › STOMATOLOGICAL PREPARATIONS › STOMATOLOGICAL PREPARATIONS › Other agents for local oral treatment
B02BC09	BLOOD AND BLOOD FORMING ORGANS › ANTIHEMORRHAGICS › VITAMIN K AND OTHER HEMOSTATICS › Local hemostatics
C01CA24	CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM › CARDIAC THERAPY › CARDIAC STIMULANTS EXCL. CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES › Adrenergic and dopaminergic agents
R01AA14	RESPIRATORY SYSTEM › NASAL PREPARATIONS › DECONGESTANTS AND OTHER NASAL PREPARATIONS FOR TOPICAL USE › Sympathomimetics, plain
R03AA01	RESPIRATORY SYSTEM › DRUGS FOR OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAY DISEASES › ADRENERGICS, INHALANTS › Alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptor agonists
R03AK01	RESPIRATORY SYSTEM › DRUGS FOR OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAY DISEASES › ADRENERGICS, INHALANTS › Adrenergics in combination with corticosteroids or other drugs, excl. anticholinergics
S01EA01	SENSORY ORGANS › OPHTHALMOLOGICALS › ANTIGLAUCOMA PREPARATIONS AND MIOTICS › Sympathomimetics in glaucoma therapy
S01EA51	SENSORY ORGANS › OPHTHALMOLOGICALS › ANTIGLAUCOMA PREPARATIONS AND MIOTICS › Sympathomimetics in glaucoma therapy

Reported adverse-event signals

Strongest FDA FAERS disproportionality signals (log-likelihood ratio). A signal is a statistical association in spontaneous reports, not proof that the drug causes the event.

MedDRA term	LLR
Local anaesthetic systemic toxicity	2046.0
Device failure	1523.9
Hereditary angioedema	1327.7
Anaphylactic reaction	1316.8
Cardiac arrest	998.8
Anaphylactic shock	986.9
Stress cardiomyopathy	930.8
Drug ineffective	860.5
Pemphigus	676.2
Liquid product physical issue	635.4
Hand deformity	621.8
Anaesthetic complication	616.4

Chemical structure

Full physicochemical, ADMET and 3D-structure analysis of Epinephrine is on its molecule page.

• Molecular formula: C₉H₁₃NO₃
• Molecular weight: 183.21 g/mol
• CAS number: —
• InChIKey: UCTWMZQNUQWSLP-VIFPVBQESA-N
• PubChem CID: 5816

CNC[C@H](O)C1=CC=C(O)C(O)=C1

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the structured data on this page, not written by hand.

What is Epinephrine used for?

DrugCentral lists the following indications for Epinephrine: Acute exacerbation of asthma, Administration of Local Anesthetic Nerve Block, Allergic Reactions, Anaphylaxis, Asthma management, Bronchiectasis, Bronchitis and Dyspnea and others.

How does Epinephrine work?

Epinephrine is classified as Adrenergic alpha-Agonists and Adrenergic beta-Agonists; its molecular targets in DrugCentral include Adra2b|Adra2c|Adra2a, ADRA1D (agonist), ADRA2A (agonist) and ADRB3 (agonist).

When was Epinephrine first approved?

Epinephrine was first approved by the FDA in 1948.

What drug class does Epinephrine belong to?

Epinephrine is in the alpha-Adrenergic Agonist class.

What is the chemical formula of Epinephrine?

Epinephrine has the molecular formula C9H13NO3 and a molecular weight of 183.21 g/mol.

Sources

• DrugCentral drug card 1028 — structure, indications, targets, approvals, pharmacologic classes (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• ChEMBL CHEMBL1256958 — compound record and bioactivity
• PubChem CID 5816 — chemical identifiers
• DrugBank DB00668 — drug record
• FDA UNII YKH834O4BH — substance identity
• DailyMed: FDA labels for Epinephrine — current prescribing information (label search)
• UniProt P25100 (ADRA1D) — target protein
• UniProt P08913 (ADRA2A) — target protein
• UniProt P13945 (ADRB3) — target protein
• UniProt P35368 (ADRA1B) — target protein
• UniProt P18825 (ADRA2C) — target protein
• UniProt P18089 (ADRA2B) — target protein
• FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (openFDA FAERS) — adverse-event signals, as aggregated by DrugCentral

How this page is built: methodology · editorial policy & corrections.