Sympathomimetic (Emergency Heart and Allergy Medicine)
Last reviewed July 2026
Who is this for?
Adrenaline (also called epinephrine) is a powerful emergency medicine that works by quickly opening up your airways, raising your blood pressure, and stimulating your heart when your body is in a life-threatening situation.
Activates α1, α2, and β1-adrenergic receptors, increasing cardiac contractility and heart rate, vasoconstricting peripheral vessels, and restoring blood pressure; also activates β2-receptors in airways to promote bronchodilation and reduce bronchoconstriction.
Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), serious asthma attacks that don't respond to inhalers, cardiac arrest (when the heart stops), severe low blood pressure (shock)
Prescription Required
You need a doctor's prescription to buy this drug.
Explore this drug
Adrenaline is an emergency medicine used only when needed, so it is not taken on a regular schedule, and a missed dose does not apply.
Adrenaline injections should only be given by trained medical personnel. Do not attempt to use it at home unless you have been specifically trained (e.g., with an auto-injector for known severe allergies). Always buy from licensed pharmacies: brands like Hanbet Adrenaline Injection are known in Nigeria, but avoid buying from roadside vendors as improper storage can make the drug useless or dangerous. If you or someone you know has a history of severe allergic reactions, talk to your doctor about carrying an emergency adrenaline kit.
Some blood pressure medicines (like propranolol or atenolol, known as beta-blockers) can reduce how well adrenaline works and may cause dangerous blood pressure spikes. Certain antidepressants (tricyclic antidepressants) can increase the effects of adrenaline and cause heart problems. Using adrenaline with some asthma drugs or decongestants may cause dangerously high heart rate.
Check your specific combination
Is it safe to take Adrenaline with your other drugs?
Adrenaline should only be used in pregnancy or breastfeeding when the mother's life is in danger. In a true emergency, saving the mother's life comes first, but a doctor must make that decision.
Store between 15°C and 25°C, avoiding exposing it to direct sunlight or extreme heat, which is common in Nigeria. Do not freeze it. Keep it in its original packaging, away from children. If the solution looks cloudy, discoloured, or has particles floating in it, do not use it.
For information only: not medical advice. Always talk to a doctor or pharmacist before changing your medication.
Names this drug is sold under, especially in Nigerian and West African pharmacies
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Counterfeit Drug Warning
Fake drugs are a serious problem in Nigeria. Always buy from a registered pharmacy. If the packaging looks different from what is described above, do not use it.