You’ve probably heard of adrenaline (or epinephrine) before, but what about another similar hormone called norepinephrine? Like adrenaline, it’s produced during the body’s natural “fight or flight” response and works as one of the body’s first responders to stressful situations.
The hormone also works as a vasoconstrictor, and the FDA has approved its use for blood pressure control and as an adjunct in the treatment of cardiac arrest for people with severely low pressure.
Like all hormones, when norepinephrine levels become too low or too high, it can lead to health conditions, including anxiety, blood pressure changes, brain fog and difficulty sleeping. The key is to keep these stress hormone levels in check by reducing daily stress levels, engaging in regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.
What Is Norepinephrine?
Norepinephrine, also called noradrenaline, is a neurotransmitter that belongs to a class of compounds known as catecholamines. Catecholamines are released into the blood in response to both physical and emotional stress. Norepinephrine is synthesized from dopamine and released from the adrenal medulla into the brain. It works as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system, where it’s released from our noradrenergic neurons.
As a neurotransmitter, norepinephrine sends signals between our nerve cells. It works by activating alpha 1 receptors that constrict the arteries and work to increase blood pressure so that blood flow returns to the heart.
Noradrenaline also acts as a stress hormone and is widely used as a vasoactive agent that narrows blood vessels and increases blood pressure. It’s responsible for making your heart rate and blood pressure increase during the body’s natural fight or flight response.
When the brain is triggered by a stressful situation, either physical or emotional, the hormone is released into the blood to do its work. It increases your heart rate, boosts blood flow to your muscles and promotes the release of glucose into the blood.
How It’s Used (and Benefits)
1. Increases Blood Pressure
The norepinephrine neurotransmitter is a peripheral vasoconstrictor, which means that it’s able to narrow your blood vessels and increase your blood pressure. For people with very low pressure that can’t be normalized with lifestyle changes, this can be beneficial.
Studies show that medications used to increase norepinephrine levels can be used by patients with symptomatic hypotension that’s unresponsive to remedies like increased water intake, may be important and effective.
The neurotransmitter is commonly used in intensive care units to treat septic shock, which is a severe infection that often leads to very low blood pressure levels and may cause organ failure. In these cases, norepinephrine is given through an IV by a healthcare professional to increase blood pressure levels to a normal range.
2. Increases Alertness and Arousal
Noradrenaline works as a neurotransmitter that increases alertness and arousal, and boosts mood too. When these hormone levels are normal, you’ll have a better ability to concentrate and stay focused. That’s exactly why low noradrenaline levels may lead to conditions such as ADHD.
Research shows that both noradrenaline and dopamine play a role in our ability to focus on everyday tasks. Many medications that are commonly prescribed to improve ADHD symptoms work to raise levels of norepinephrine, including Ritalin, Adderall and Dexedrine.
3. Improves Depression
Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that disturbances in norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters in the central nervous system are involved in the underlying pathophysiology of depression.
Evidence for the involvement of noradrenaline in depression is abundant. Studies have found that the hormone plays a determinant role in regulating cognition, motivation and intellect, which are all important functions in social relationships.
Researchers point out social dysfunction being one of the most important factors affecting our quality of life may be one major reason why low norepinephrine may lead to depression symptoms.
4. Improves Sleep
When it comes to norepinephrine for sleep, many antidepressants that affect the hormone’s signaling are also used to treat insomnia. Studies show that the neurotransmitter is involved in increasing the arousal system, and it impacts the efficacy of many wake- and sleep-promoting medications.
The right amount of the hormone in your body will promote normal sleep, but too much of it will boost arousal and cause sleep issues.
