adrenalinE is far more commonly used in both BE and AE (although epinephrine is the preferred term in AE). It should not appear as the secondary variant to adrenalin, but vice versa.
Adrenalin without an “e” (and capitalised) is a trade name
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
“
Adrenalin A trademark used for a medicinal preparation of epinephrine.”
http://www.answers.com/adrenalin&r=67The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
“
Adrenalin A trademark used for a medicinal preparation of
adrenaline.”
http://www.answers.com/adrenalin&r=67AHD4:
"epinephrine also epinephrin
n.
1. A hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla that is released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress, as from fear or injury. It initiates many bodily responses, including the stimulation of heart action and an increase in blood pressure, metabolic rate, and blood glucose concentration. Also called
adrenaline."
http://www.answers.com/topic/epinephrine?cat=...Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary Copyright 2004. WB Saunders, an Elsevier imprint.
“
Adrenalin (Adren•a•lin) trademark for preparations of epinephrine.“
“
adrenaline (adren•a•line) - epinephrine.”
http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_d...epinephrine (epi•neph•rine) 1. a catecholamine hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla and a neurotransmitter, released by certain neurons and active in the central nervous system. It is stored in the chromaffin granules and is released in response to hypoglycemia, stress, and other stimuli. It is a potent stimulator of the adrenergic receptors of the sympathetic nervous system and a powerful cardiac stimulant that accelerates the heart rate and increases cardiac output. It also promotes glycogenolysis and exerts other metabolic effects. 2. [USP] a synthetic preparation of the levorotatory form of epinephrine, used topically as a vasoconstricting adjunct to local or regional anesthesia, intravenously as a cardiac stimulant and vasopressor; subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously as a systemic antiallergic in the treatment of severe allergic reactions; subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intranasally, or by inhalation as a bronchodilator; and topically to the conjunctiva in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma. Called also
adrenaline (Great Britain). “
http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_d...British approved names (BAN) have recently been brought into line with the recommended international non-proprietary names (rINN) with the important exceptions of adrenaline and noradrenaline. The British National Formulary and the European Pharmacopoiea both refer to
adrenalinE:
“
ADRENALINE AND NORADRENALINE.
Adrenaline and noradrenaline are the terms used in the titles of monographs in the European Pharmacopoeia and are thus the official names in the member states. For these substances, the BP 2007 shows the European Pharmacopoeia names and the rINNs at the head of the monographs; the BNF has adopted a similar style.”
http://bnf.org/bnf/extra/current/450049.htm“The most important argument for using
"adrenaline" as the recommended international non-proprietary name is that the adoption of "epinephrine" will increase the risk of accidental misuse of the drug in the many countries (see below) in which "adrenaline" is preferred. Errors in medication, which are not uncommon, are more likely to occur in emergencies, when there is little time to attend to the nuances of nomenclature and other details, as anyone who has attended a cardiac arrest will testify.”
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/320/7233/506From the BMJ Style guide:
“
adrenaline or epinephrine? Adrenaline is the UK name and epinephrine is the rINN name. The BNF groups this drug inList 1, requiring both names to appear. BMJ style complies with this by putting rINN first then UK name in parentheses the first time (thereafter the rINN only). In this case, however, adrenaline (and the associated noradrenaline) has a footnote in BNF to say that "precedence will continue to be given to the terms adrenaline and noradrenaline". Therefore, reverse the order for these two entries - ie. put adrenaline first with epinephrine in parentheses (and same for noradrenaline).”
However, non-medical sources also list the variant without the “e”, e.g. Chambers 21st Century Dictionary gives both.
