Adrenaline (epinephrine)
Anaphylaxis: 0.5 mg (0.5 mL of 1:1000) IM into the outer thigh. Cardiac arrest: 1 mg IV (10 mL of 1:10,000). Never give 1:1000 IV as a bolus.
On this page
Anaphylaxis (IM, 1:1000 = 1 mg/mL)
| Age | Dose |
|---|---|
| Adult and child over 12 | 500 micrograms (0.5 mL); 300 micrograms if small or prepubertal |
| 6–12 years | 300 micrograms (0.3 mL) |
| 6 months to 6 years | 150 micrograms (0.15 mL) |
| Under 6 months | 100–150 micrograms (0.1–0.15 mL) |
Repeat after 5 minutes if no improvement. After 2 doses with ongoing problems: IV adrenaline infusion with critical care.
Other uses
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| Cardiac arrest (adult) | 1 mg IV (10 mL of 1:10,000) every 3–5 minutes |
| Cardiac arrest (child) | 10 micrograms/kg IV |
| Severe croup (nebulised 1:1000) | 0.5 mL/kg, max 5 mL |
| Septic shock infusion | 0.05–0.5 micrograms/kg/minute (ICU) |
Cautions
- Never give 1:1000 adrenaline as an IV bolus outside cardiac arrest.
- Palpitations, tremor, high BP, arrhythmias.
Frequently asked questions
Where is IM adrenaline given?
Into the anterolateral (outer) thigh.
Used in these guides
Sources
Doses on this page are typical doses from the sources above. Always confirm with a current drug reference, the product leaflet and your hospital protocol, especially in children, pregnancy and kidney or liver disease.
For FCPS Part 1
Revising for FCPS Part 1? Adrenaline is covered in our textbook chapter Adrenergic drugs, with practice MCQs.