adenosine vs amiodarone
Side-by-side comparison of adenosine and amiodarone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Adenocard
Cordarone, Pacerone
Adenosine (Adenocard) is a medicine used to treat certain types of irregular heartbeats. It belongs to a class of drugs called antiarrhythmics.
Amiodarone (Pacerone) is a medicine used to treat life-threatening, irregular heartbeats. It helps to restore a normal heart rhythm when other medicines don't work or can't be used.
Adenosine is used to treat a very fast heart rate in the upper chambers of your heart. This condition is called supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Adenosine helps to slow down your heart rate to a normal rhythm.
This medicine treats very fast, irregular heartbeats in the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart). It is used when these irregular heartbeats are life-threatening. It is also used when other medicines don't work well enough or cause too many side effects. This medicine is for adults.
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.
Amiodarone affects the electrical signals in your heart. It slows down these signals, which helps your heart beat normally. This medicine can help prevent dangerous, fast heart rhythms.
No common side effects listed.
- • Low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism)
- • High thyroid levels (hyperthyroidism)
- • Heart failure
- • Irregular heartbeats
- • Problems with the heart's natural pacemaker (SA node dysfunction)
- The medicine did not work 327
- Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 98
- Very fast heart rate 94
- Low blood pressure 86
- Heart stops beating 78
- Difficulty breathing 1,158
- Weakness 975
- Tiredness 893
- Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 852
- The medicine is not working 719
Since this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a monitored setting, there are no specific at-home warnings.
This medicine can cause serious problems with your lungs, liver, and heart. Lung problems can be fatal. Your doctor will check your lungs with X-rays and breathing tests. Liver problems can also be fatal. Your doctor will check your liver with blood tests. This medicine can also make irregular heartbeats worse. You will likely start this medicine in the hospital where your heart can be monitored.
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.
This medicine can harm your unborn baby. It can cause thyroid problems, slow heart rate, and brain development issues. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This adenosine vs amiodarone Comparison
adenosine is classified in the Endogenous Nucleoside (Antiarrhythmic) drug class, while amiodarone sits within the Class III Antiarrhythmic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, adenosine has 683 submissions while amiodarone has 4,597. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between adenosine and amiodarone — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.