Levophed

Generic name: Norepinephrine

Usage of Levophed

Levophed is similar to adrenaline. It is used to treat life-threatening low blood pressure (hypotension) that can occur with certain medical conditions or surgical procedures. This medicine is often used during CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation).

Levophed may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Levophed side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregivers at once if you have:

pain, burning, irritation, discoloration, or skin changes where the injection was given;

sudden numbness, weakness, or cold feeling anywhere in your body;

slow or uneven heart rate;

blue lips or fingernails, mottled skin;

little or no urination;

trouble breathing;

problems with vision, speech, or balance; or

severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Levophed

If possible before you receive Levophed, tell your caregivers if you have:

high blood pressure (hypertension);

diabetes;

coronary artery disease;

circulation problems;

varicose veins;

overactive thyroid; or

asthma or a sulfite allergy.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

In an emergency, you may not be able to tell caregivers about your health conditions or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows you received Levophed.

How to use Levophed

Levophed is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Levophed is usually given for as long as needed until your body responds to the medication. Some people must receive this medicine for several days.

Your blood pressure, breathing, and other vital signs will be watched closely while you are receiving Levophed.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any pain, irritation, cold feeling, or other discomfort of your skin or veins where the medicine is injected. Levophed can damage the skin or tissues around the injection site if the medicine accidentally leaks out of the vein.

Warnings

Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as a cold feeling anywhere in your body, blue lips or fingernails, trouble breathing, little or no urination, irritation or skin changes where the medicine was injected, slow heart rate, sudden numbness or weakness, severe headache, or problems with vision, speech, or balance.

What other drugs will affect Levophed

If possible before you receive Levophed, tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

an antidepressant;

blood pressure medication; or

an MAO inhibitor--isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Levophed, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.