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Epinephrine
Last updated: 23/05/2024
(Also known as: adrenaline)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
Epinephrine is widely used drug for anaphylactoid shock
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
-
Examples of veterinary uses
Primarily used to treat anaphylaxis and for cardiac resuscitation
Examples of species treated
Dogs; Cats; Other domesticated animals; Cattle; Horses; Pigs; Sheep
Approval status
VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)
Approved
EU Regulatory approval status
Approved
Chemical structure
Isomerism
Isomeric. The R-enantiomer of epinephrine is the hormone secreted by the adrenal glands.
Chemical formula
C₉H₁₃NO₃
Canonical SMILES
CNCC(C1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)O)O
Isomeric SMILES
CNC[C@@H](C1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)O)O
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)
UCTWMZQNUQWSLP-VIFPVBQESA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)
InChI=1S/C9H13NO3/c1-10-5-9(13)6-2-3-7(11)8(12)4-6/h2-4,9-13H,5H2,1H3/t9-/m0/s1
2D structure diagram/image available?
Yes
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams
Common Name Relationship Link
epinephrine -
General status
Veterinary substance type
Medicinal drug
Other bioactivity & uses
Hormone
Substance groups
Unclassified medicinal drug; Hornone
Minimum active substance purity
-
Known relevant impurities
-
Substance origin
Synthetic
Mode of action
Antagonizes the effects of histamine, raises blood sugar, increases heart rate and contractility, and increases systolic blood pressure.
Molecular targets
[Adrenergic receptors]
CAS RN
51-43-4
Alternative/old CAS RN
51028-73-0
EC number
200-098-7
CIPAC number
-
US EPA chemical code
-
PubChem CID
5816
Therapeutic Class
Multiple therapeutic classes
ATCvet Code
QA01AD01; QB02BC09; QC01CA03; QC01CA24; QR01AA14; QR03AA01; QR03AK01; QS01EA01; QS01EA51
Controlled Drug?
No
Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification
-
Molecular mass
183.21
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)
4-[(1R)-1-hydroxy-2-(methylamino)ethyl]benzene-1,2-diol
IUPAC name
4-[(1R)-1-hydroxy-2-(methylamino)ethyl]benzene-1,2-diol
CAS name
-
Other status information
-
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
-
Physical state
White microcrystalline powder
Related substances & organisms
Formulations
Property
Product
Manufacturer
Authorisation Route
Legal Class (GB/UK)
Example products (past and present) using this active
Adrenacaine Solution for Injection for Cattle Norbrook Laboratories Limited GB National authorisation Prescription only medicine to be authorised by suitably qualified person (POM-VPS)
Tri-solfen Cutaneous Solution Dechra Ltd UK National authorisation Prescription only medicine to be authorised by a veterinarian (POM-V)
Formulation and application details
Usually formulated as solutions for injection but also as cutaneous sprays for topical use
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
100
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Moderate
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Melting point (°C)
211.5
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Boiling point (°C)
215
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Degradation point (°C)
- - -
Flashpoint (°C)
- - -
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
4.27 X 10-02 Calculated -
Log P
-1.37
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Low
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
- - -
Data type
- - -
Density (g ml⁻¹)
1.28
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
8.59
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
-
-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
- - -
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
- - -
Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost
From plant surface
- - -
From soil surface
- - -
Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹
- - -
Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)
- - -
Refractive Index
- - -
Environmental release
-
Degradation
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)
DT₅₀ (typical)
- - -
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
- - -
DT₅₀ (field)
- - -
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
- - -
DT₉₀ (field)
- - -
Note
-
Manure DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
- - -
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
- - -
Note
-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Air degradation
As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.
Decay in stored produce DT₅₀
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd (mL g⁻¹)
- - -
Koc (mL g⁻¹)
-
Notes and range
-
Freundlich
Kf (mL g⁻¹)
- - -
Kfoc (mL g⁻¹)
-
1/n
-
Notes and range
-
pH sensitivity
-
Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
- - -
Bio-concentration factor
BCF (l kg⁻¹)
- - -
CT₅₀ (days)
- -
Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
90
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Mouse
High
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL
(mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
(ppm diet)
- -
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
- - -
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)
- - -
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
- - -
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Soil micro-organisms
- - -
Collembola
Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Non-target plants
- - -
- - -
Honeybees (Apis spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Chronic
- - -
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
-
Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
-
Mason bees (Osmia spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Other bee species (1)
Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)
- - -
Mode of exposure
-
Other bee species (2)
Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)
- - -
Mode of exposure
-
Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Lacewings)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)
- - -
Aquatic ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Mesocosm study data
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
- - -
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
- - -
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
General
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)
- - -
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
90
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Mouse
High
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)
300
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Mouse
-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints
- - -
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
Dermal penetration studies (%)
- - -
Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464
- - -
Exposure Routes
Public
-
Occupational
-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate
Excreted rapidly in urine
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
XNo, known not to cause a problem
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source)
0 = No data
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor Neurotoxicant
?Possibly, status not identified
XNo, known not to cause a problem
No data found
Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser
?Possibly, status not identified
?Possibly, status not identified
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Eye irritant Phototoxicant  
?Possibly, status not identified
No data found  
General human health issues
No information available
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
When heated to decomposition it will emit toxic fumes
Combustible
IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1
CLP classification 2013
Health: H301, H311, H315, H319, H335
WHO Classification
Not listed (Not listed)
UN Number
UN2811
Waste disposal & packaging
Packaging Group II (moderate danger)
Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity
Chemically stable under standard ambient conditions
TRANSLATIONS
Language
Name
English
epinephrine
French
-
German
-
Danish
-
Italian
-
Spanish
-
Greek
-
Polish
-
Swedish
-
Hungarian
-
Dutch
-
Norwegian
-

Record last updated: 23/05/2024
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as: Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242