What is adrenaline?

Adrenaline is a hormone that's made in your body and released by your adrenal glands.

If you are in an exciting, stressful or dangerous situation, your brain sends signals to your adrenal glands to start releasing adrenaline into the blood. You will feel its effects in just a few minutes.

Adrenaline helps you react quickly. This is called the 'fight-or-flight response'.

Once the stress is gone, your glands stop releasing adrenaline. You may still feel the effects of adrenaline — such as trembling, a fast heartbeat, or looking pale — for around 20 minutes.

Adrenaline is also used as a medicine in emergencies, such as a severe allergic reaction (also called anaphylaxis).

Outside Australia adrenaline may be called epinephrine.

What is the role of adrenaline?

Adrenaline makes your heart pump faster and helps your lungs work better. This will:

• send more blood to your brain and muscles
• increase your blood pressure
• help your brain stay alert
• raise your blood sugar level to give you energy

Adrenaline makes your pupils grow larger and you sweat. Also, you don't feel as much pain, so you can keep running or fighting if needed, even if you are hurt.

These short-term effects on your body help you do better when you're under stress.

How is adrenaline used as a medicine?

Adrenaline can be used as a medicine in some situations.

Adrenaline is used to treat a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) during emergencies.

It may also be given in different ways in the treatment of:

• cardiac arrest
• croup
• asthma

Severe allergic reaction

Adrenaline helps treat a severe allergic reaction by:

• quickly reducing swelling in your throat
• opening your airways
• keeping your blood pressure from falling too low

Adrenaline is injected into the large muscle in your thigh and can help save your life.

If you don't feel better and can't breathe easily 5 minutes after your first adrenaline injection, give yourself another injection from a new packet.

If you have been given an adrenaline injection at home or anywhere that is not a hospital — go to a hospital — even if you are feeling much better. Hospital doctors will monitor you for at least 4 hours.

What forms of adrenaline are available?

You can take a dose of adrenaline by using an autoinjector.

If you have a health condition where you might need adrenaline right away, you can learn how to use an adrenaline autoinjector, like an EpiPen or Anapen.

Make sure to check the expiry date on your adrenaline autoinjector and replace it before it expires.

What if I have both asthma and allergy?

Asthma, food allergy and anaphylaxis often occur in the same person. Asthma increases your chance of having anaphylaxis.

So, if you have asthma and an allergy, your doctor may prescribe an adrenaline autoinjector for you to use if you need it.

If you have asthma and suddenly have problems breathing:

1. Always use the adrenaline autoinjector first.
2. Use your asthma reliever medicine.
3. Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance if you still have trouble breathing.
4. Go to hospital for at least 4 hours of observation.

What happens if I have too much adrenaline?

If you have too much adrenaline, it can cause symptoms like:

• dizziness
• changes to your vision
• heart palpitations (fast heartbeat)
• feeling irritable and jittery
• difficulty sleeping (insomnia)

Some rare medical conditions, such as a tumour on the adrenal glands, can also make your body produce too much adrenaline.

Over time, high levels of adrenaline can cause:

• high blood pressure
• weight loss
• anxiety
• increased chance of a heart attack or stroke

What happens if I have too little adrenaline?

Having too little adrenaline is very rare. If you don't have enough adrenaline, it would stop your body from being able to react properly in stressful situations.

How can I adjust my adrenaline levels?

When you feel stressed, your body might make more adrenaline. If this happens, you may be able to manage your stress in a healthy way, by:

• exercising
• meditating or doing another relaxation technique
• sleeping well
• eating a healthy diet
• reducing caffeine and alcohol
• speaking to a doctor or mental health professional

When should I see my doctor?

If you have allergies, you could be at risk of anaphylaxis. Talk to your doctor about an 'anaphylaxis action plan'.

Your doctor may prescribe adrenaline, based on your age and weight.

Resources and support

For more information on adrenaline autoinjectors, including videos on how to use them, visit the ASCIA website.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.