Why is epinephrine the first-line treatment for anaphylactic shock?
Disease description:
Today, my colleague suddenly experienced anaphylactic shock. After sending him to the hospital, I saw the doctor administer an injection of epinephrine. I would like to understand why epinephrine is given for anaphylactic shock?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Guang
Anaphylactic shock is a severe systemic allergic reaction that can rapidly become life-threatening. In the treatment of anaphylactic shock, epinephrine is widely recognized as the first-line medication due to its multiple mechanisms of action. As an agonist of both alpha and beta receptors, epinephrine plays a crucial role in managing anaphylactic shock. When anaphylactic shock occurs, patients often exhibit critical symptoms such as decreased blood pressure, reduced heart rate, and difficulty breathing. At this point, epinephrine activates alpha receptors, causing peripheral vasoconstriction, thereby increasing blood pressure. Simultaneously, activation of beta receptors enhances myocardial contractility, increases heart rate, and dilates bronchial smooth muscles, alleviating respiratory distress.
By promoting glycogenolysis and lipolysis, epinephrine provides additional energy to help the body cope with emergency situations. It also inhibits the release of histamine and other allergic mediators from mast cells and basophils, thus reducing the severity of the allergic reaction.
However, careful attention must be paid to dose control when administering epinephrine to avoid side effects caused by excessive dosage, such as arrhythmias.
