Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside occurring in all cells of the body. It is chemically 6-amino-9-β-D-ribofuranosyl-9-H-purine and has the following structural formula: Adenosine is a white crystalline powder. It is soluble in water and practically insoluble in alcohol. Solubility increases by warming and lowering the pH. Adenosine is not chemically related to other antiarrhythmic drugs. Adenosine Injection is a sterile, nonpyrogenic solution for rapid bolus intravenous injection. Each mL contains 3 mg adenosine and 9 mg sodium chloride in Water for Injection. The pH of the solution is between 4.5 and 7.5. Structural Formula

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.

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.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesHow we research

Key facts

Drug class: Adenosine Receptor Agonist
Treats: 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 Adenocard (application NDA019937). 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 IV 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 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 < 50 kg: Initial dose: Give 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg as a rapid IV bolus given either centrally or peripherally. A saline flush should follow. Repeat administration: If conversion of PSVT does not occur within…

Adenosine side effects

The following reactions were reported with intravenous adenosine injection 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. 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…

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.

Adenosine products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Adenocard	72/100	Prescription	Injectable	—	—	View →
2	Adenoscan	72/100	Prescription	Solution	—	—

Frequently asked questions

What is adenosine?: Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside occurring in all cells of the body. It is chemically 6-amino-9-β-D-ribofuranosyl-9-H-purine and has the following structural formula: Adenosine is a white crystalline powder. It is soluble in water and practically insoluble in alcohol. Solubility increases by warming and lowering the pH. Adenosine is not chemically related to other antiarrhythmic drugs. Adenosine Injection is a sterile, nonpyrogenic solution for rapid bolus intravenous injection. Each mL contains 3 mg adenosine and 9 mg sodium chloride in Water for Injection. The pH of the solution is between 4.5 and 7.5. Structural Formula
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.

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.

Adenosine drug interactions

Intravenous adenosine injection has been effectively administered in the presence of other cardioactive drugs, such as quinidine, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, calcium channel blocking agents, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, without any change in the adverse reaction profile. Digoxin and verapamil use may be rarely associated with ventricular fibrillation when combined with adenosine injection (see WARNINGS ). Because of the potential for additive or synergistic depressant effects on the SA and AV nodes, however, adenosine injection should be used with caution in the presence of these agents. The use of adenosine injection in patients receiving digitalis may be rarely associated with ventricular fibrillation (see WARNINGS ). The effects of adenosine are antagonized by methylxanthines such as caffeine and theophylline. In the presence of these methylxanthines, larger doses of adenosine may be required or adenosine may not be effective. Adenosine effects are potentiated by dipyridamole. Thus, smaller doses of adenosine may be effective in the presence of dipyridamole. Carbamazepine has been reported to increase the degree of heart block produced by other agents. As the primary effect of adenosine is to decrease conduction through the A-V node, higher degrees of heart block may be produced in the presence of carbamazepine.