Drug interactions
Epinephrine + Metaproterenol
Severity: Moderate
Epinephrine and Metaproterenol: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both drugs stimulate adrenergic receptors, so using them together can add to tachycardia, palpitations, tremor, arrhythmia risk and blood pressure changes. Both can also lower serum potassium through beta-2 stimulation, which increases arrhythmia risk, particularly in patients with asthma who are hypoxic or taking other potassium-lowering drugs.
What this interaction means in plain words
Epinephrine and Metaproterenol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive beta-adrenergic agonism causing cardiovascular stimulation and intracellular potassium shift.
What to do
Monitor heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure, and check serum potassium when high doses or repeated dosing of both are given. Avoid unnecessary concurrent use of multiple sympathomimetic bronchodilators.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Epinephrine and Metaproterenol, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Epinephrine
- Epinephrine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Epinephrine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Epinephrine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Acebutolol + Epinephrine Major
- Amitriptyline + Epinephrine Major
- Amoxapine + Epinephrine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Epinephrine with Metaproterenol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Epinephrine and Metaproterenol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both drugs stimulate adrenergic receptors, so using them together can add to tachycardia, palpitations, tremor, arrhythmia risk and blood pressure changes. Both can also lower serum potassium through beta-2 stimulation, which increases arrhythmia risk, particularly in patients with asthma who are hypoxic or taking other potassium-lowering drugs.
How serious is the interaction between Epinephrine and Metaproterenol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure, and check serum potassium when high doses or repeated dosing of both are given. Avoid unnecessary concurrent use of multiple sympathomimetic bronchodilators.
What other medicines interact with Epinephrine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Epinephrine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine. The full list is on the Epinephrine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
