adenosine
Brand names: Adenocard
Adenosine (Adenocard) is a medicine used to treat certain types of irregular heartbeats. It belongs to a class of drugs called antiarrhythmics.
What it does
Adenosine is used to treat a very fast heart rate in the upper chambers of your heart.
Common side effects
No common side effects listed.
Key warnings
Since this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a monitored setting, there are no specific at-home warnings.
How It Works
Adenosine works by slowing down the electrical signals in your heart. This helps to interrupt the fast heart rhythm and restore a normal heartbeat. It does this by acting on specific receptors in the heart tissue.
How to Take It
Adenosine is given as an injection by a healthcare provider. It is usually given in a hospital setting where your heart can be monitored. The dose and how often you receive it will be determined by your doctor. This medicine is for topical use only.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if adenosine can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if adenosine passes into breast milk, so discuss this with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
Since adenosine is given by a healthcare provider, you don't have to worry about missing a dose.
Storage
This medication is stored by healthcare professionals.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,012 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 1,547 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
1,547
Death-Related Reports
138
Hospitalization Reports
733
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 327 |
| 2 | OFF LABEL USE | 98 |
| 3 | SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA | 94 |
| 4 | HYPOTENSION | 86 |
| 5 | CARDIAC ARREST | 78 |
| 6 | DYSPNOEA | 74 |
| 7 | PAIN | 67 |
| 8 | ATRIAL FIBRILLATION | 64 |
| 9 | BRADYCARDIA | 63 |
| 10 | TACHYCARDIA | 61 |
| 11 | ANXIETY | 55 |
| 12 | DRUG INTERACTION | 53 |
| 13 | NAUSEA | 52 |
| 14 | VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA | 49 |
| 15 | DIZZINESS | 48 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Since this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a monitored setting, there are no specific at-home warnings.
Known Drug Interactions
Adenosinergic agents (e.g., adenosine, regadenoson) Dipyridamole has been reported to increase the plasma levels and cardiovascular effects of adenosine. Adjustment of adenosine dosage may be necessary. Dipyridamole also increases the cardiovascular effects of regadenoson, an adenosine A 2A -receptor agonist.
Mechanism: Dipyridamole causes adenosine levels to build up in the blood, which can make the effects on your heart and blood vessels stronger.
What to do: Your doctor may need to change your dose of adenosine if you are also taking dipyridamole.
Adenosine Theophylline blocks adenosine receptors. Higher doses of adenosine may be required to achieve desired effect. 25% increase Diazepam Benzodiazepines increase CNS concentrations of adenosine, a potent CNS depressant, while theophylline blocks adenosine receptors.
Mechanism: Theophylline blocks the specific spots in your body where adenosine works, making the adenosine less effective.
What to do: A higher dose of adenosine may be needed to reach the desired effect while you are taking theophylline.
Common Questions
What is adenosine used for?
How is adenosine given?
Will adenosine cure my heart condition?
Are there any long-term side effects?
Can I take adenosine at home?
What should I tell my doctor before receiving adenosine?
Can I eat or drink before receiving adenosine?
How will I feel after receiving adenosine?
Is adenosine the same as Adenocard?
How quickly does adenosine work?
Does adenosine interact with other medications?
What drug class is adenosine?
Is adenosine safe during pregnancy?
Has adenosine been recalled?
Active Recalls
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection findings resulted in concerns regarding quality control processes
Lowlite Investments, Inc. D/B/A Olympia Pharmacy
Related Medications in Endogenous Nucleoside (Antiarrhythmic)
Other drugs grouped near adenosine — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amiodarone
Cordarone, Pacerone
Amiodarone (Pacerone) is a medicine used to treat life-threatening, irregular heartbeats.
Compare with adenosine →
atropine
AtroPen
Atropine is a medicine that can temporarily block severe effects on your body.
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bumetanide
Bumex
Bumetanide is a water pill (diuretic).
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carvedilol
Coreg
Carvedilol is a medicine that lowers blood pressure and helps your heart work better.
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digoxin
Lanoxin
Digoxin (Lanoxin) is a medicine that helps your heart pump better.
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What the FDA Data Shows for adenosine
The FDA label for adenosine (sold under brand names such as Adenocard) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Endogenous Nucleoside (Antiarrhythmic) class. Adenosine is used to treat a very fast heart rate in the upper chambers of your heart. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,012 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: July 11, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages