Epinephrine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Epinephrine is a catecholamine sold in the U.S. under 13 brand and generic names, for airway obstruction, anaphylaxis and bradycardia. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesUpdated Jul 24, 2026How we research

Key facts

Drug class: Catecholamine
Treats (across its forms): Airway Obstruction, Anaphylaxis and Bradycardia
Available as: Injectable · Solution · Spray/Inhaler, metered · Spray/Inhaler
Sold as: 13 products — Adrenaclick, Sus-Phrine Sulfite Free and Symjepi, and others
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Not in our catalog
What the pharmacy pays: about $3898 for a 30-count supply — not your price

How Adrenaclick is dosed

From the FDA label for Adrenaclick (application NDA020800). Other epinephrine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Patients greater than or equal to 30 kg (66 lbs): 0.3 mg (2) Patients 15 to 30 kg (33 lbs-66 lbs): 0.15 mg (2) Inject intramuscularly or subcutaneously into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh, through clothing if necessary. Each device is a single-dose injection. (2) 2.1 Recommended Dosage According to Patient Body Weight Patients greater than or equal to 30 kg (approximately 66 pounds or more): 0.3 mg Patients 15 kg to 30 kg (33 pounds to 66 pounds): 0.15 mg 2.2 Administration Instructions Inject the single-dose epinephrine injection intramuscularly or subcutaneously into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh, through clothing if necessary. Do not inject intravenously, and do not inject into buttocks, into digits, hands or feet [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Instruct caregivers of young children who are prescribed an epinephrine injection and who may be uncooperative and kick or move during an injection to hold the leg firmly in place and limit movement prior to and during an injection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] . Each epinephrine injection is a single-dose of epinephrine injection for single use. Since the doses of epinephrine delivered from epinephrine injection are fixed, consider using other forms of injectable epinephrine if doses lower than 0.15 mg are deemed necessary. With severe persistent anaphylaxis, repeat injections with an additional…

Everything below is the FDA label for Adrenaclick (injectable). Epinephrine is also sold as solution, spray/inhaler, metered and spray/inhaler, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Adrenaclick side effects

Due to the lack of randomized, controlled clinical trials of epinephrine for the treatment of anaphylaxis, the true incidence of adverse reactions associated with the systemic use of epinephrine is difficult to determine. Adverse reactions reported in observational trials, case reports, and studies are listed below. Common adverse reactions to systemically administered epinephrine include anxiety; apprehensiveness; restlessness; tremor; weakness; dizziness; sweating; palpitations; pallor; nausea and vomiting; headache; and/or respiratory difficulties. These symptoms occur in some persons receiving therapeutic doses of epinephrine, but are more likely to occur in patients with hypertension or hyperthyroidism [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] . Cardiovascular Reactions Arrhythmias, including fatal ventricular fibrillation, have been reported, particularly in patients with underlying cardiac disease or those receiving certain drugs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) and Drug Interactions (7)] . Rapid rises in blood pressure have produced cerebral hemorrhage, particularly in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] . Angina may occur in patients with coronary artery disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] . Rare cases of stress cardiomyopathy have been reported in patients treated with epinephrine. Reactions from Accidental…

Who shouldn’t take Adrenaclick

None. None. ( 4 )

Adrenaclick drug interactions

Cardiac Glycosides, Diuretics, and Anti-arrhythmics Patients who receive epinephrine while concomitantly taking cardiac glycosides, diuretics, or anti-arrhythmics should be observed carefully for the development of cardiac arrhythmias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] . Antidepressants, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, Levothyroxine, and Antihistamines The effects of epinephrine may be potentiated by tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, levothyroxine sodium, and certain antihistamines, notably chlorpheniramine, tripelennamine, and diphenhydramine. Beta-Adrenergic Blockers The cardiostimulating and bronchodilating effects of epinephrine are antagonized by beta- adrenergic blocking drugs, such as propranolol. Alpha-Adrenergic Blockers The vasoconstricting and hypertensive effects of epinephrine are antagonized by alpha-adrenergic blocking drugs, such as phentolamine. Ergot Alkaloids Ergot alkaloids may also reverse the pressor effects of epinephrine. Cardiac glycosides or diuretics: observe for development of cardiac arrhythmias. ( 7 ) Tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, levothyroxine sodium, and certain antihistamines: potentiate effects of epinephrine. ( 7 ) Beta-adrenergic blocking drugs: antagonize cardiostimulating and bronchodilating effects of epinephrine. ( 7 ) Alpha-adrenergic blocking drugs: antagonize vasoconstricting and hypertensive effects of epinephrine. ( 7 ) Ergot alkaloids: may reverse the pressor effects of epinephrine. ( 7 )

Every epinephrine product we track (13)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Epinephrine products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Pharmacy pays
1	Adrenaclick	70/100	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$3898	View →
2	Sus-Phrine Sulfite Free	70/100	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$3898	View →
3	Symjepi	70/100	Prescription	Solution	Generic	$3898	View →
4	Twinject	70/100	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$3898	View →
5	Epi E Z Pen Jr	66/100	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$3898	View →
6	Epipen	66/100	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$3898	View →
7	Epipen E Z Pen	66/100	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$3898	View →
8	Epipen Jr.	66/100	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$3898	View →
9	Adrenalin	Not yet rated	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$3898	View →
10	Auvi-Q	Not yet rated	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$3898	View →

Combination products containing epinephrine

A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.

Epinephrine recalls

From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.

How long epinephrine keeps

The date on a sealed pack is not the only one: some epinephrine labels start a second clock once the product is opened or mixed, as short as 4 hours.

Does epinephrine expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labels

Epinephrine and breastfeeding

From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.

No information is available on the use of epinephrine during breastfeeding. Because of its poor oral bioavailability and short half-life, any epinephrine in milk is unlikely to affect the infant. High intravenous doses of epinephrine might reduce milk production or milk letdown. Low-dose intramuscular (such as Epi-Pen), epidural, topical, inhaled or ophthalmic epinephrine are unlikely to interfere with breastfeeding. To substantially diminish the effect of the drug after using eye drops, place pressure over the tear duct by the corner of the eye for 1 minute or more, then remove the excess solution with an absorbent tissue. Epinephrine is the first line-medication of choice for treatment of anaphylaxis; it should be used in the same manner in breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding patients.

Full LactMed record for epinephrine: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider instead

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised April 15, 2026. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.

What people report to the FDA about epinephrine

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 47,358 reports naming epinephrine, and the FDA flagged 62% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:

headache3,204 reports
sinusitis2,906 reports
fatigue2,893 reports
covid-192,496 reports
dyspnoea2,465 reports
nausea2,331 reports
pneumonia2,093 reports
inappropriate schedule of product administration1,797 reports

Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean epinephrine caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.

Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.

Related calculators

How long it stays in your system →

Frequently asked questions

What is Adrenaclick?

Adrenaclick (Epinephrine) is a catecholamine used to treat Airway Obstruction, Anaphylaxis, Bradycardia, Bronchial Spasm.

What kind of drug is epinephrine?

The FDA classifies epinephrine as a catecholamine. Catecholamines such as epinephrine and norepinephrine are "fight or flight" messengers that switch on adrenergic (alpha and beta) receptors throughout the body, speeding the heart, raising blood pressure by tightening blood vessels, and opening the airways. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take epinephrine with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run epinephrine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is epinephrine sold under?

We track 13 epinephrine-containing products in the U.S.: Adrenaclick, Sus-Phrine Sulfite Free, Symjepi, Twinject, Epi E Z Pen Jr, Epipen, Epipen E Z Pen and Epipen Jr., and 5 more. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does epinephrine come in?

Across the brands we track, epinephrine is currently marketed as injectable, solution, spray/inhaler, metered and spray/inhaler, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic epinephrine?

We do not currently list a generic-labelled epinephrine product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Has epinephrine been recalled?

The FDA's Enforcement database lists at least 5 recall records whose product description mentions epinephrine. The most recent: Epinephrine Injection (May 14, 2026). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.

Cite this page

APA: pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Epinephrine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/epinephrine
MLA: “Epinephrine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/epinephrine.

We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Read the full FDA label for epinephrine on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.