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Occupational Hazards of Respiratory Therapists Administering Epinephrine Via Inhalation

Epinephrine is a hormone produced in the human adrenal gland, but it can also be synthesized in laboratory. The compound has many therapeutic uses, including treating cardiac arrest, a source in immunotherapy, a local anesthetic and a bronchodilator in the treatment of asthma. Although epinephrine is used in over-the-counter inhalers, the substance has caused side effects in some users. But, according to research, epinephrine as an inhalant poses little occupational hazard to respiratory therapists performing standard professional procedures.

  1. History

    • Epinephrine inhalers were first sold in the United States in the 1960s, according to Chest Journal. In 1982, the Federal Drug Administration published a document stating that epinephrine in pressurized metered-dose inhalation aerosol was safe and effective for over-the-counter use, when observing the indicated dosage. In 1986, the FDA concluded that, with expanded and revised labeling, the continued over-the-counter availability of epinephrine was not a public safety hazard. In the U.S., all epinephrine inhalers will be discontinued starting December 2011, according to the FDA. The ban is due to the products' chlorofluorocarbons or CFC aerosol components, which cause ozone depletion, rather to any direct human health hazards related to the product.

    Dangers of Excessive Inhalation

    • According to Jeanne Mager Stellman in the "Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety," of the few incidents involving the overdose of epinephrine inhalants, the majority of the cases occurred in situations in which an individual was exposed to heavy concentrations of the anaesthetic gas found in the products. Abuse of the substance can lead to epinephrine sensitization of the heart, which has tachycardia as one of the symptoms and can be fatal, depending on the concentration amount and length of exposure time.

    Side-Effects

    • Epinephrine inhalers can cause some side effects, including increased blood pressure or heart rate, nervousness, sleeplessness, tremor and seizure, according to the website RxList. Headache, loss of appetite and nausea also occurred in some patients, reports Drugs.com. Severe side effects include wheezing and allergic reactions, such as rash, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest and swelling of the mouth or face.

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