Two medicines, side by side
Adenosine vs mexiletine
Adenosine has no indication this site maps; mexiletine has no indication this site maps. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of adenosine since 1989 and of mexiletine since 1985. In FDA's classes, adenosine is an adenosine receptor agonist and mexiletine an antiarrhythmic.
Check it at the source: the adenosine FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 14, 2025); the mexiletine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 14, 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 mexiletine record
Mexiletine (Mexitil) · label of May 14, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsMexiletine hydrochloride capsules are indicated for the treatment of documented ventricular arrhythmias, such as sustained ventricular tachycardia, that, in the judgment of the physician, are life-threatening. Because of the proarrhythmic effects of mexiletine, its use with lesser arrhythmias is generally not recommended. Treatment of patients with asymptomatic ventricular premature contractions should be avoided. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 30, 1985
- Generic labelers
- 14 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.222 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Adenosine label of April 14, 2025, Mexiletine label of May 14, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do adenosine and mexiletine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, adenosine is an adenosine receptor agonist and mexiletine an antiarrhythmic.
Generics: adenosine since 2004; mexiletine since 1995 (Drugs@FDA).
| Adenosine | Mexiletine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | n/a | n/a |
| Pharmacologic class | Adenosine Receptor Agonist | Antiarrhythmic |
| 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 | In normal subjects, the plasma elimination half-life of mexiletine is approximately 10 to 12 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 30, 1989 | December 30, 1985 |
| First generic approved | June 16, 2004 | May 16, 1995 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | 14 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | $0.222 per capsule (Mexiletine 150 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | -14% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,600 | 420 |
| 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