adenosine vs dofetilide
Side-by-side comparison of adenosine and dofetilide Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Adenocard
Tikosyn
Adenosine (Adenocard) is a medicine used to treat certain types of irregular heartbeats. It belongs to a class of drugs called antiarrhythmics.
Dofetilide (Tikosyn) helps keep your heart in a normal rhythm if you have atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. It can also help convert these abnormal rhythms back to normal.
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 is used to maintain a normal heart rhythm if you have atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter for more than a week, and your heart has been returned to a normal rhythm. It can also convert atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter to a normal rhythm. This medicine is for people who have bothersome symptoms from their atrial fibrillation or flutter.
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.
Dofetilide belongs to a class of drugs called Class III antiarrhythmics. It works by changing the electrical activity in your heart. This helps to stabilize your heart rhythm and prevent irregular heartbeats.
No common side effects listed.
- • Headache
- • Chest pain
- • Dizziness
- 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
- Irregular heartbeat 1,059
- Medicine not working 1,024
- Shortness of breath 603
- Feeling lightheaded 552
- Feeling tired 521
Since this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a monitored setting, there are no specific at-home warnings.
This drug can cause life-threatening heart rhythm problems. To lower this risk, you must start or restart this medicine in a hospital where your heart can be watched closely for at least 3 days. The hospital staff will check your kidney function and heart rhythm regularly.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.
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How to Read This adenosine vs dofetilide Comparison
adenosine is classified in the Endogenous Nucleoside (Antiarrhythmic) drug class, while dofetilide 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 dofetilide has 3,759. 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 dofetilide — 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.