{"id":29905,"date":"2015-11-23T16:12:58","date_gmt":"2015-11-24T00:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=29905"},"modified":"2015-11-24T14:55:29","modified_gmt":"2015-11-24T22:55:29","slug":"norepinephrine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/norepinephrine\/","title":{"rendered":"Norepinephrine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-29964\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/norepenphrine-relased-from-adrenal-gland-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Norepinephrine being released from adrenal gland\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-id=\"29964\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/norepenphrine-relased-from-adrenal-gland-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/norepenphrine-relased-from-adrenal-gland.jpg 727w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Norepinephrine<\/strong>, also referred to noradrenaline, is a chemical messenger. It functions both as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/neurotransmitter\">neurotransmitter<\/a> and a hormone within the body and is released in response to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/stress\">stress<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Norepinephrine?<\/h2>\n<p>Norepinephrine can\u00c2\u00a0be classified as both a phenethylamine and a catecholamine. While it may be directly synthesized from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/dopamine\">dopamine<\/a>, all catecholamines\u00e2\u20ac\u201dincluding norepinephrine and dopamine\u00e2\u20ac\u201dultimately come from the amino acid tyrosine.<\/p>\n<p>Norepinephrine is produced by adrenal glands or\u00c2\u00a0by noradrenergic neurons, which are found chiefly in the locus coeruleus of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/brain\">brain<\/a>. When secreted by the adrenal medulla, norepinephrine is released directly into the bloodstream and functions as a hormone. When secreted by noradrenergic neurons, it acts as a neurotransmitter, directly affecting the central and sympathetic nervous systems.<\/p>\n<h2>The Function of Norepinephrine<\/h2>\n<p>The physiological changes induced by a stressful event may trigger the release of norepinephrine within the body. In turn, norepinephrine activates target cells in specialized tissues to prepare the body to effectively deal with the stress being experienced. It is a crucial component of the body\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/fight-or-flight\">fight or flight<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0response.<\/p>\n<p>When faced with an acute threat, norepinephrine is able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Affect the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/amygdala\">amygdala <\/a>and other brain areas that\u00c2\u00a0regulate attention and response<\/li>\n<li>Increase blood flow\u00c2\u00a0to skeletal muscles<\/li>\n<li>Increase the force of skeletal muscle contraction<\/li>\n<li>Increase the force of contraction in the heart <div class=\"content-fatwidget align-right\">\n\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\" target=\"_blank\">Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t<form action=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/search-redirect.html\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t\t<input required name=\"search[zipcode]\" placeholder=\"Enter ZIP or City\" class=\"inline-input\" type=\"text\" \/>\n\n\n\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"TOS agreement\" value=\" \" class=\"inline-btn\" title=\"Search\" onclick=\"ga('send', 'event', 'FAT Widget', 'Submit Search', 'Sidebar', {nonInteraction: true});\" \/>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/advanced-search.html\" title=\"Advanced Search\" onclick=\"ga('send', 'event', 'FAT Widget', 'Advanced Search', 'Sidebar', {nonInteraction: true});\" >Advanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div><\/li>\n<li>Raise heart rate<\/li>\n<li>Cause the vasoconstriction of blood vessels, thus increasing blood pressure<\/li>\n<li>Trigger the release of glucose from the body\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s energy stores, thus raising the blood-glucose level<\/li>\n<li>Increase the amount of free fatty acids in circulation within the body<\/li>\n<li>Enhance the function of immune cells<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These processes\u00c2\u00a0help prepare the body to confront or retreat from any perceived threat.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Norepinephrine and Mental Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Norepinephrine is believed to play\u00c2\u00a0a vital role in the maintenance of good mental health. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/depression\">Depression<\/a>, one of the most common mental health issues people face today, has been linked to the\u00c2\u00a0norepinephrine system. Though medical science has not yet revealed all of the specific biochemical mechanisms underlying depression, research does show norepinephrine, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/serotonin\">serotonin<\/a>, the noradrenergic system, and the serotonergic system are all directly involved in the action of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/drugs\/antidepressants.html\">antidepressant medications<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Some mental health professionals believe that chemical imbalances between norepinephrine and other neurotransmitters (serotonin, GABA, and dopamine) may be associated with the development of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/anxiety\">anxiety<\/a> and other issues related to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/mood\">mood<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Norepinephrine and dopamine also play important roles in attention and focus. Current research suggests that low levels of these chemical messengers may contribute to conditions\u00c2\u00a0such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/therapy-for-adhd.html\">attention deficit hyperactivity<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/alzheimer-disease\">Alzheimer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s disease<\/a>. Other mental health conditions believed to be\u00c2\u00a0influenced by chemical imbalances in the brain include schizophrenia, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/bipolar\">bipolar<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/ocd\">obsessive-compulsive behaviors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Abnormal\u00c2\u00a0levels of norepinephrine have also been linked to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Difficulty sleeping<\/li>\n<li>A disinterested mood<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/panic\">Panic<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Exhaustion<\/li>\n<li>Hyperactivity<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/memory\">Memory<\/a> problems<\/li>\n<li>Chest pain<\/li>\n<li>Nausea<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Norepinephrine in Medicine<\/h2>\n<p>Norepinephrine is used widely\u00c2\u00a0in the medical field. It\u00c2\u00a0is often used to treat low blood pressure (hypotension), particularly during surgical operations or in emergency medical situations such as septic shock or neurogenic shock.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/drugs\/antidepressants-snris.html\">Serotonic-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)<\/a>, a class of second-generation antidepressants, specifically target the serotonergic and norepinephrine systems. These medications block the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, leading to an increase of these chemicals in the brain area.<\/p>\n<p>SNRIs are used to treat a wide range of concerns, including\u00c2\u00a0depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/fibromyalgia\">fibromyalgia<\/a>, attention deficit hyperactivity, and neuropathic pain. Because SNRIs tend to be\u00c2\u00a0better tolerated and often have a higher safety profile for those receiving treatment,\u00c2\u00a0they may\u00c2\u00a0replace\u00c2\u00a0first-generation drugs such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/drugs\/antidepressants-maois.html\">monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/drugs\/antidepressants-tricyclics.html\">tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Computation and Applied Mathematics at Rice. (n.d.). Norepinephrine. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.caam.rice.edu\/~cox\/wrap\/norepinephrine.pdf<\/li>\n<li>Drugs.com. (2014). Norepinephrine. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.drugs.com\/mtm\/norepinephrine.html<\/li>\n<li>Goldman, B. (2012). How stress can boost immune system. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2012\/06\/120621223525.htm<\/li>\n<li>Moret, C. &amp; Briley, M. (2011). The importance of norepinephrine in depression. <em>Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment<\/em>, 7(1), 9-13. http:\/\/doi.org\/10.2147\/NDT.S19619. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3131098\/<\/li>\n<li>Rogers, K. (2015). Norepinephrine. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/norepinephrine<\/li>\n<li>United States National Library of Medicine. (2000). Role of norepinephrine in depression [Abstract]. <em>Journal of Clinical Psychiatry<\/em>, 61(1), 5-12. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/10703757<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Norepinephrine, also referred to noradrenaline, is a chemical messenger. It functions both as a neurotransmitter and a hormone within the body and is released in response to stress. What Is Norepinephrine? Norepinephrine can\u00c2\u00a0be classified as both a phenethylamine and a catecholamine. While it may be directly synthesized from dopamine, all catecholamines\u00e2\u20ac\u201dincluding norepinephrine and dopamine\u00e2\u20ac\u201dultimately come [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2924,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"psychpedia.php","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29905","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2924"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29905"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29905\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}