adenosine vs hydralazine/isosorbide dinitrate
Side-by-side comparison of adenosine and hydralazine/isosorbide dinitrate Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Adenocard
Adenosine (Adenocard) is a medicine used to treat certain types of irregular heartbeats. It belongs to a class of drugs called antiarrhythmics.
BiDil is a medicine that combines two drugs to help treat heart failure. It contains isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine hydrochloride, which work together to widen blood vessels.
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.
BiDil is used to treat heart failure in self-identified Black patients. It is used along with other standard heart failure treatments. BiDil can help you live longer, spend less time in the hospital because of heart failure, and feel better overall.
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.
BiDil contains two medicines that work in different ways to widen your blood vessels. Isosorbide dinitrate widens both arteries and veins. Hydralazine hydrochloride mainly widens arteries.
No common side effects listed.
- • Headache
- • 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
- Long-term kidney disease 2,819
- Sudden kidney damage 2,616
- Kidney failure 2,097
- Final stage of kidney failure 1,585
- Tiredness 1,541
Since this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a monitored setting, there are no specific at-home warnings.
BiDil can cause low blood pressure, especially when you stand up. This is more likely if you are dehydrated or have low salt levels. Hydralazine hydrochloride, one of the medicines in BiDil, can cause a lupus-like syndrome. If you have symptoms, your doctor may tell you to stop taking BiDil. BiDil can also worsen chest pain, especially if you have certain heart conditions.
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.
It is not known if BiDil is safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if BiDil passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking BiDil.
How to Read This adenosine vs hydralazine/isosorbide dinitrate Comparison
adenosine is classified in the Endogenous Nucleoside (Antiarrhythmic) drug class, while hydralazine/isosorbide dinitrate sits within the Vasodilator / Nitrate Combination 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 hydralazine/isosorbide dinitrate has 10,658. 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 hydralazine/isosorbide dinitrate — 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.