This section is from the book "Practical Materia Medica And Prescription Writing", by Oscar W. Bethea. Also available from Amazon: Practical Materia Medica and Prescription Writing.
Latin, Suprarenalum Siccum. (Gen., Suprarenali Sicci)
Eng., Dried Suprarenals (Glandulae Suprarenales Siccae, U. S. P., viii-Desiccated Suprarenal Glands).
The suprarenal glands of animals, which are .used for food by man, cleaned, dried, freed from fat, and powdered and containing not less than 0.4 per cent. nor more than 0.6 per cent. of epinephrin, the active principle of the suprarenal gland. One part of Dried Suprarenal represents approximately 6 parts of fresh glands, free from fat.
A light, yellowish-brown powder.
4 grains (0.25 Gm.).
Eng., Epinephrine. The blood-pressure-raising principle of the suprarenal gland.
7 l/2 minims (0.5 mil) of a 1: 1000 solution.
Cardiac stimulant and vasoconstrictor.
Employed in solutions for local anesthesia. Extensively used for asthma, turgescent rhinitis, sinusitis, otitis media, nasal .or gastric hemorrhage, nausea, pulmonary edema, hemorrhoids, etc.
It should be particularly remembered that these preparations are incompatible with alkalies. The preparation under the trade name Adrenalin is extensively used in the form of the Solution of Adrenalin Chloride 1: 1000, Adrenalin Ointment, Suppositories, Inhalant, etc.
For systemic effect the drug is administered by needle.
The solution does not keep well, and for hypodermic purposes the aseptic ampoules are desirable.
1 Shoemaker: Materia Medica and Therapeutics.
For preparing small amounts of solutions for local anesthesia, tablets can be obtained (as of novocaine) containing the proper proportion of adrenalin.
The dried product, when employed, is usually administered in capsules.
As a nasal spray:
or | |||
Adrenalin Chlor. (Sol. 1:1000)................... | f3iss | 6 | |
Liq. Antiseptici............................................... | f3iij | 12 | |
Aquae................................................................ | 90 |
M.
Use to spray nose every three hours.
This is much to be preferred to the common formula calling for the alkaline solution, which rapidly decomposes the adrenalin.
In a local anesthetic solution:
or | |||
Cocainae Hydrochlor...................................... | gr. j | 065 | |
Sodii Chloridi................................................... | gr. iij | 200 | |
Adrenalin Chloridi (Sol. 1:1000).............. | mv | 300 | |
Aquae Destillatae.............................................. | q. s. | 30 | 000 |
M.
Formula.
Unless to be used at once, it is better to omit the adrenalin from the prescription, and add it immediately before using.
In the treatment of erythema venenatum:
or | |||
Cocainae Hydrochlor.................................... | gr. x | 65 | |
Adrenalin Chloridi (Sol. 1:1000)............. | 15 | 00 | |
Aquae Rosae.................................................. | q. s. | 180 | 00 |
M.
Apply every two hours.
 
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