Differences between adrenaline and norepinephrine

The human body contains and secretes substances that fulfill specific functions. In the case of adrenaline (also called epinephrine) and norepinephrine (or norepinephrine), they act as hormones and / or neurotransmitters. Some drugs have an effect on these compounds, such as certain antidepressants, which lengthen and enhance the effect of norepinephrine.

Since they are different compounds, their functions and characteristics are different. In the following Psychology-Online article we expose three differences between adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Index

1. What is norepinephrine, where is it produced and functions
2. What is adrenaline, where is it produced and functions
3. Differences between adrenaline and norepinephrine

Norepinephrine can act in various ways in our body: we can speak of norepinephrine as hormone, norepinephrine can also act as neurotransmitter and we can refer to norepinephrine as a drug.

The enzyme dopamine beta-hydroxylase converts dopamine in norepinephrine. Following the dictionary of psychology of the American Psychiatric Association, this occurs mainly in the nuclei of the brainstem and adrenal medulla.

Norepinephrine performs various functions in our body, all aimed at activating it. Among these functions we find:

• Maintaining the alert level that will allow us to carry out our daily functions.
• Preparation for action: together with adrenaline, they affect glucose metabolism so that our body can have the necessary energy levels for certain situations that demand it.
• Increased blood supply towards the muscles and increase in blood pressure.
• Participation in the stress response.
• Intervention in wake-sleep cycles.

As a drug, the mechanism of action of norepinephrine or norepinephrine consists of a vasoconstrictor action of resistance and capacitance vessels and a stimulating action of the myocardium. Therefore, it is indicated in states of acute hypotension and as a temporary adjunct in the context of treatment of cardiac arrest and acute hypotension.

Adrenaline, taking as reference the dictionary of psychology of the American Psychiatric Association, is a hormone and / or neurotransmitter synthesized mainly in the adrenal medulla:

• It is an adrenal hormone, the end result of the metabolism of the amino acid tyrosine. It is secreted by stimuli related to anxiety, fear or stress.
• As a neurotransmitter, it would be the main stimulant of alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic receptors.

Therefore, as in the case of norepinephrine, we can refer to adrenaline as a hormone, a neurotransmitter and, as we will see below, as a drug.

Regarding its formation, it will be norepinephrine itself that is converted into adrenaline through the action of the enzyme phenylethanolamine - N-Methyl-Transferase (FNMT).

Among the functions of adrenaline within the body we find:

• Incrise of cardiac frecuency and the force of cardiac contractions.
• Relaxation of the bronchial and intestinal smooth muscle.
• It has an effect on blood pressure because it acts as a vasodilator and vasoconstrictor.
• Participate in the preparation and / or activation of the organism in response to situations of fear, anxiety or stress.

Finally, as a drug it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which gives rise to its effects on the circulatory system and the relaxation of the bronchial smooth muscle. Due to these effects, the use of adrenaline as a drug is indicated in:

• Acute asthma attacks.
• Anaphylactic shock.
• Heart attack and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) caused by food, medicine, insect bites or stings, and other allergens.

As we have seen, adrenaline and nosadrenaline are two hormones and neurotransmitters whose function is similar. Both activate the body in situations of stress or fear. However, they also have some unusual aspects. Let's look at the 3 main differences between adrenaline and norepinephrine:

Differences in its composition

As we have already seen, both are different substances and therefore have a different chemical composition. Both the substances from which they come and the chemical reactions that result in the formation of one or the other are different:

• The formation of the noradrenaline is produced by hydroxylation from dopamine.
• The formation of adrenalin is produced by methylation from norepinephrine.

Differences in their function

While it is true that both norepinephrine and adrenaline activate the body and prepare it for responses to fear, anxiety or stress, there are some differences and specificities in their function such as, for example:

• The action that the adrenalin on smooth bronchial musculature.
• The hypertensive effect in the case of noradrenaline.

Differences in its indications as a drug

• While the adrenalin It is indicated, above all, for severe allergic reactions, acute asthma attacks, and cardiac arrest.
• The noradrenaline It is used mainly in cases of acute hypotension.

It is important to bear in mind that both drugs have adverse effects and, since their mechanism of action is different, they also have differences between them. Following Vademecum (2018) and Vademecum (2021):

• In the case of adrenaline, its adverse effects will be contextualized in the sympathetic activation of the central nervous system, such as dizziness or tachycardia; and in the psychological sphere, as the appearance of fear.
• As for norepinephrine, its side effects will be more related to the effect it causes on the vascular system.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Differences between adrenaline and norepinephrine, we recommend that you enter our category of Neuropsychology.

• American Psychiatric Association (2020). APA Dictionary of Psychology. Recovered from https://dictionary.apa.org
• Carlson, N.R. (2010) In Fundamentals of Behavioral Physiology. Madrid: Pearson Educación S.A.
• Vademecum (2018) Noradrenaline B. Braun 1 mg / ml Concent. Parasol. For perfus. Recovered from https://www.vademecum.es/medicamento-noradrenalina+b.+braun+1+mg%2Fml+concent.+para+sol.+para+perfus._21847
• Vademecum (2021) Adrenaline Bradex 1mg / ml Sol. Iny. Recovered from https://www.vademecum.es/medicamento-adrenalina+bradex_48333