Vasopressors are a group of medicines that constrict (tighten) blood vessels and raise blood pressure.

They’re used to treat severely low blood pressure, especially in people who are critically ill, according to the Mayo Clinic. They are typically administered in an emergency department or intensive care unit, though they are also available in smaller doses in nasal decongestants and epinephrine injectors to prevent allergic reactions.

Very low blood pressure can lead to organ damage and even death.

These drugs can help doctors treat patients who are in shock, according to PulmCCM, a state defined by inadequate delivery of blood and oxygen to meet the needs of tissues.

Vasopressors have been used since the 1940s. They’re commonly given in combination with medicines called inotropes (which affect cardiac muscle contraction).

Common Vasopressors

Medicines — including synthetic hormones — that are used as vasopressors include:

norepinephrine
epinephrine
vasopressin
dopamine
phenylephrine

Vasopressor Precautions

Vasopressors should only be given under the supervision of a medical professional. These are powerful drugs, and they can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

The medicines may reduce blood flow to some parts of the body.

With the exception of prescription and over-the-counter products, vasopressors are generally used when a person’s life is in danger due to an underlying disorder that’s causing very low blood pressure.

Vasopressors are given through an IV, typically one that has been placed in a large vein.

Side Effects of Vasopressors

Vasopressors are administered in an emergency or intensive care unit, where the patient will be closely monitored for potential complications, including signs of a stroke or heart attack.

Most people receiving vasopressors are in serious or critical condition and may not be able to communicate.

The medical staff administering the vasopressor will closely monitor for side effects, including dangerously high blood pressure (which can cause severe headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, confusion, anxiety, chest pain, or seizures); and anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can cause rash, hives, chest tightness, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue.

If you are able to communicate, let your doctor know about all prescription, nonprescription, illegal, recreational, herbal, nutritional, or dietary drugs you’re taking before receiving a vasopressor.

Vasopressors and Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, your doctor (or emergency room physician) will have to decide whether the benefits of using a vasopressor outweigh the risks.

Also, talk to your healthcare provider before breastfeeding if you’ve received a vasopressor.

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Russell H. Greenfield, MD

Medical Reviewer

Russell H. Greenfield, MD, is senior physician consultant for the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation for the Veterans Health Administration and maintains a consultative integrative medicine private practice. He previously served as senior director of employee whole health for Whole Health Institute (WHI), where he was responsible for developing corporate partnerships and implementing programs in support of employee health and well-being. Immediately prior to joining WHI, he was physician executive and medical director of integrative medicine for Novant Health, with headquarters in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Dr. Greenfield completed residency training in emergency medicine at Harbor–UCLA Medical Center as well as chief resident fellowship at the same institution. After moving to Charlotte, he became involved in the emergency medicine residency program at Carolinas Medical Center and was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was one of the first four physicians to graduate from the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at The University of Arizona College of Medicine in 1999.

Greenfield was founding medical director of Carolinas Integrative Health, a freestanding center owned and operated by Carolinas HealthCare System (now Atrium Health), and a consultant in the development of U.S. national model guidelines for the use of complementary and alternative therapies. He has worked with a variety of organizations promoting employee and community integrative health initiatives including Harris Teeter supermarkets, Levine Cancer Institute, and Wake Forest Baptist Health. He is coauthor of Healthy Child, Whole Child, named “Best Parenting Guide 2001” by the editors at Amazon.com, and editor of the Andrew Weil, MD book, Mind Over Meds (2017). Greenfield was a medical reviewer for Reader’s Digest and has consulted with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).

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Julie Lynn Marks

Author

Julie Marks is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health, lifestyle, and science topics. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, her work has been featured in WebMD, SELF, Healthline, A&E, Psych Central, Verywell Health, and more. Her goal is to compose helpful articles that readers can easily understand and use to improve their well-being. She is passionate about healthy living and delivering important medical information through her writing.

Prior to her freelance career, Marks was a supervising producer of medical programming for Ivanhoe Broadcast News. She is a Telly award winner and Freddie award finalist. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, traveling, and cheering on the UCF Knights.

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