ACUTE-RENAL-FAILURE, ANTERIOR MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION, AND ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION COMPLICATING EPINEPHRINE ABUSE

After injecting the solution extracted from a Primatene Mist inhaler, a patient experienced epinephrine overdose that resulted in an acute m yocardial infarction and acute renal failure. The exact amount of epin ephrine injected was unknown, but was thought to be between 82.5 and 1 24 mg, more than 25 times higher than the amount normally administered . Health care providers should be aware of this readily available sour ce of epinephrine and the potential adverse effects associated with it s inappropriate use.