The prescription injectable medication Levophed contains norepinephrine bitartrate. Despite its effectiveness at raising blood pressure levels in people suffering from potentially-fatal cases of hypotension, Levophed poses a risk of side effects in some patients.

Side Effects

Side effects of Levophed include anxiety, headaches, heart rate irregularities and difficulty breathing.

Overdose

If too much Levophed is administered, patients may develop severe hypertension, resulting in severe headaches, visual sensitivity to light, back pain, paleness, increase sweating and vomiting, explains RxList.

Drug Interactions

Administering Levophed with some types of general anesthetics poses a risk for abnormal heart rhythm. When taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors antidepressant (MAOI), the risk of hypertension from Levothed increases, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Risks

Some patients develop severe allergic reactions to Levophed, which may cause asthma attacks or anaphylactic shock. Infrequently, Levophed causes brain damage due to decreased oxygen levels as well as gangrene of the limbs, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Considerations

Because its effects upon fetal development are unknown, doctors rarely prescribe Levophed for use in pregnant or nursing women. Levophed is not approved for use in children, and there is an increased risk of Levophed side effects in people over the age of 65.

Source:

RxList: Levophed

U.S. National Library of Medicine DailyMed: LEVOPHED (norepinephrine bitartrate) injection, solution, concentrate