Adenosine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Adenosine is an adenosine receptor agonist sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia, paroxysmal tachycardia and wolff-parkinson-white syndrome. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Adenosine Receptor Agonist
- Treats (across its forms)
- Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia, Paroxysmal Tachycardia and Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
- Available as
- Injectable · Solution
- Sold as
- 3 products — Adenocard, Adenoscan and Adenosine
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
How adenosine is dosed
From the FDA label for Adenosine (application ANDA076564). Other adenosine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
For rapid bolus intravenous use only. Adenosine injection, USP should be given as a rapid bolus by the peripheral intravenous route. To be certain the solution reaches the systemic circulation, it should be administered either directly into a vein or, if given into an intravenous line, it should be given as close to the patient as possible and followed by a rapid saline flush. Adult Patients The dose recommendation is based on clinical studies with peripheral venous bolus dosing. Central venous (CVP or other) administration of adenosine injection, USP has not been systematically studied. The recommended intravenous doses for adults are as follows: Initial dose: 6 mg given as a rapid intravenous bolus (administered over a 1 to 2 second period). Repeat administration: If the first dose does not result in elimination of the supraventricular tachycardia within 1 to 2 minutes, 12 mg should be given as a rapid intravenous bolus. This 12 mg dose may be repeated a second time if required. Pediatric Patients The dosages used in neonates, infants, children and adolescents were equivalent to those administered to adults on a weight basis. Pediatric Patients with a Body Weight less than 50 kg: Initial dose: Give 0.05 mg/kg to 0.1 mg/kg as a rapid intravenous bolus given either centrally or peripherally. A saline flush should follow. Repeat administration: If conversion of paroxysmal…
Adenosine side effects
The following reactions were reported with intravenous adenosine injection, USP used in controlled U.S. clinical trials. The placebo group had a less than 1% rate of all of these reactions. Cardiovascular Facial flushing (18%), headache (2%), sweating, palpitations, chest pain, hypotension (less than 1%). Respiratory Shortness of breath/dyspnea (12%), chest pressure (7%), hyperventilation, head pressure (less than 1%). Central Nervous System Lightheadedness (2%), dizziness, tingling in arms, numbness (1%), apprehension, blurred vision, burning sensation, heaviness in arms, neck and back pain (less than 1%). Gastrointestinal Nausea (3%), metallic taste, tightness in throat, pressure in groin (less than 1%). Post-Marketing Experience (see WARNINGS) The following adverse events have been reported from marketing experience with adenosine injection, USP. Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, are associated with concomitant diseases and multiple drug therapies and surgical procedures, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Decisions to include these events in labeling are typically based on one or more of the following factors: (1) seriousness of the event, (2) frequency of the reporting, (3) strength of causal connection to the drug, or a combination of these…
Who shouldn’t take adenosine
Intravenous adenosine injection, USP is contraindicated in: Second- or third-degree A-V block (except in patients with a functioning artificial pacemaker). Sinus node disease, such as sick sinus syndrome or symptomatic bradycardia (except in patients with a functioning artificial pacemaker). Known hypersensitivity to adenosine.
Every adenosine product we track (3)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | 72/100 | Prescription | Solution | No data | — | View → | |
| 3 | 56/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → |
How long adenosine keeps
No adenosine label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does adenosine expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsWhat people report to the FDA about adenosine
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 2,375 reports naming adenosine, and the FDA flagged 86% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- supraventricular tachycardia113 reports
- hypotension100 reports
- dyspnoea96 reports
- nausea86 reports
- anxiety76 reports
- bradycardia72 reports
- atrial fibrillation71 reports
- dizziness68 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean adenosine caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is adenosine?
Adenosine is an adenosine receptor agonist used to treat Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia, Paroxysmal Tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases.
What kind of drug is adenosine?
The FDA classifies adenosine as an adenosine receptor agonist. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take adenosine with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run adenosine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is adenosine sold under?
We track 3 adenosine-containing products in the U.S.: Adenocard, Adenoscan and Adenosine. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does adenosine come in?
Across the brands we track, adenosine is currently marketed as injectable and solution, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic adenosine?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic adenosine product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Adenosine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/adenosine
- MLA
- “Adenosine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/adenosine.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for adenosine on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.