adenosine vs mexiletine
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of adenosine and mexiletine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Adenocard
Mexitil
Adenosine (Adenocard) is a medicine used to treat certain types of irregular heartbeats. It belongs to a class of drugs called antiarrhythmics.
Mexiletine is a medicine used to treat life-threatening heart rhythm problems. It helps to stabilize your heartbeat.
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.
Mexiletine is used to treat serious, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, like sustained ventricular tachycardia. These are problems with the rhythm of the lower chambers of your heart. It is generally not recommended for less severe arrhythmias or asymptomatic premature ventricular contractions.
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.
Mexiletine belongs to a class of drugs called antiarrhythmics. It works by slowing down the electrical signals in your heart. This helps to make your heartbeat more regular.
No common side effects listed.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Heartburn
- • Dizziness
- • Lightheadedness
- Supraventricular Tachycardia 94
- Hypotension 86
- Cardiac Arrest 78
- Dyspnoea 74
- Pain 67
- Fatigue 31
- Ventricular Tachycardia 31
- Dyspnoea 26
- Nausea 24
- Poor Quality Sleep 24
Since this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a monitored setting, there are no specific at-home warnings.
Mexiletine may increase the risk of death or cardiac arrest in some patients with a history of heart attack. It should only be used for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. This medicine can also cause liver problems, especially if you have congestive heart failure or ischemia.
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. The effects of mexiletine during pregnancy are not fully known. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.
How to Read This adenosine vs mexiletine Comparison
adenosine is classified in the Endogenous Nucleoside (Antiarrhythmic) drug class, while mexiletine sits within the Class IB 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 399 submissions while mexiletine has 136. 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 represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for adenosine or mexiletine.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.