Two medicines, side by side
Adenosine vs benzonatate
Adenosine has no indication this site maps; benzonatate for cough and cold. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of adenosine since 1989 and of benzonatate since 1958. In FDA's classes, adenosine is an adenosine receptor agonist and benzonatate a non-narcotic antitussive.
Check it at the source: the adenosine FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 14, 2025); the benzonatate FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 3, 2026).
Highlights of the adenosine record
Adenosine (Adenocard) · label of April 14, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAdenosine injection is indicated as an adjunct to thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients unable to exercise adequately. Adenosine injection, a pharmacologic stress agent, is indicated as an adjunct to thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients unable to exercise adequately
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 1989
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the benzonatate record
Benzonatate (Tessalon) · label of August 3, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsBenzonatate capsules, USP are indicated for the symptomatic relief of cough.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 10, 1958
- Generic labelers
- 45 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0656 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Adenosine label of April 14, 2025, Benzonatate label of August 3, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do adenosine and benzonatate differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, adenosine is an adenosine receptor agonist and benzonatate a non-narcotic antitussive.
Generics: adenosine since 2004; benzonatate since 1993 (Drugs@FDA).
| Adenosine | Benzonatate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | n/a | Cough and cold |
| Pharmacologic class | Adenosine Receptor Agonist | Non-narcotic Antitussive |
| How it works (label) | Adenosine causes cardiac vasodilation which increases cardiac blood flow. Adenosine is thought to exert its pharmacological effects through activation of purine receptors (cell-surface A 1 and A 2 adenosine receptors). | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 30, 1989 | February 10, 1958 |
| First generic approved | June 16, 2004 | January 29, 1993 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | 45 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | $0.0656 per capsule (Benzonatate 100 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,600 | 16,446 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to adenosine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions