Acute Renal Failure, Anterior Myocardial Infarction, and Atrial Fibrillation Complicating Epinephrine Abuse

Abstract

After injecting the solution extracted from a Primatene Mist inhaler, a patient experienced epinephrine overdose that resulted in an acute myocardial infarction and acute renal failure. The exact amount of epinephrine injected was unknown, but was thought to be between 82.5 and 124 mg, more than 25 times higher than the amount normally administered. Health care providers should be aware of this readily available source of epinephrine and the potential adverse effects associated with its inappropriate use.