What is a common side effect of epinephrine administration?

Epinephrine is a powerful sympathomimetic agent that stimulates both alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors in the body. This stimulation leads to a variety of physiological effects, one of which is vasoconstriction due to alpha receptor activation. This vasoconstriction can result in an increase in blood pressure, which is commonly referred to as hypertension. This side effect is particularly notable in situations where epinephrine is used to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) or during cardiac arrest, where increasing blood pressure is often a desired effect.

While drowsiness, vomiting, and hypoglycemia can occur in certain contexts or due to other medications, these are not typical side effects of epinephrine. Instead, the stimulatory effects of epinephrine typically lead to increased alertness, and while it may cause gastrointestinal upset in some cases, this is less common than its more significant cardiovascular effects. Additionally, epinephrine can actually lead to hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia, as it promotes glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver, resulting in increased blood glucose levels. Therefore, hypertension stands out as a common and direct side effect of epinephrine administration.