Adenosine
Description
Adenosine is used to treat certain types of abnormal heartbeats. It is also used as a diagnostic aid during the stress test of the heart for patients who are unable to exercise adequately.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Adenosine
- Chest discomfort
- Difficult and painful breathing
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Confusion
- Irregular heart beat
- Excessive sweating
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Severe headache
- Nervousness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Change in taste/ Metallic taste
- Shaking and trembling of arms and feet
Uses of Adenosine
What is it prescribed for?
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
- Heart stress test
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of this medicine can be observed within 20 to 30 seconds of intravenous administration.
- Duration of effectThe effect of this medicine lasts for approximately 10 to 30 seconds.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue breastfeeding for a specific period of time based on your clinical condition.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to adenosine or any other inactive ingredient present along with it.
Second or third-degree atrioventricular block
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from a second or third-degree atrioventricular block and who have not undergone pacemaker implantation since it may worsen the patient's condition.
Sick sinus syndrome
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from sick sinus syndrome and who have not undergone pacemaker implantation since it may worsen the patient's condition.
Severe hypotension/shock
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from a very low blood pressure (severe hypotension) or shock due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Heart Failure
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from a heart failure since it may worsen the patient's condition.
Asthma
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from asthma or any other severe breathing disorder due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Long QT syndrome
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from a rare heart problem known as Long QT syndrome since it may worsen the patient's condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue breastfeeding for a specific period of time based on your clinical condition.
General warnings
Other medicines
This medicine may interact with many other medicines and may cause severe adverse effects. Hence, it is advised that you report all your current medicines including any herbs and supplements to the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Heart block
Administration of this medicine may produce a short lasting first, second, or third-degree heart block. Appropriate corrective measures should be initiated based on the patient's clinical condition. If patients develop a high-level heart block after the initial dose, additional doses should not be given.
Arrythmias
Use of this medicine may cause the appearance of a variety of short-lasting new heart rhythms on the electrocardiogram. It is advised to continuously monitor the heart rhythm of the patient while this medicine is being administered.
Bronchoconstriction
Use of this medicine may make the airways leading to the lungs more narrow and cause worsening of symptoms of asthma, COPD, and other obstructive lung diseases. It is advised to administer this medicine with extreme caution in patients with obstructive disease of the lungs and the respiratory tract. Replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the patient's condition.
Heart diseases
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients who have had a heart attack, heart failure, or have had a heart transplant done within the last 1 year. It should also be used with extreme caution in patients suffering from narrowing of the heart valves, swelling and enlargement of tissues around the heart, or other known heart defects. Close monitoring of heart function, appropriate dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Low blood volume
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients with a low blood volume level that has not been corrected (hypovolemia) since it may worsen the patient's condition. Appropriate corrective measures and/or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Seizure disorder
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a history of seizures or convulsions due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of clinical condition, appropriate dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary in some cases.
Caffeine uptake
Use of caffeine and caffeine-containing products should be avoided for 12 to 24 hours before the administration of this medicine since these products may reduce the effectiveness of this medicicne.
Missed Dose
This medicine is usually administered in the hospital/clinical setting; hence, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.
Overdose
Since this medicine is administered in the hospital/clinical setting, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, if an overdose is suspected, emergency medical treatment will be instituted by your doctor.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Pimozide
Lumefantrine
Terfenadine
Ziprasidone
Efavirenz
Azithromycin
Fluconazole
Digoxin
Famotidine
Citalopram
Mifepristone
Clozapine
Gatifloxacin
Amiodarone
Cisapride
Clarithromycin
Aminophylline
Promethazine
Quinidine
Lithium
Moxifloxacin
Arbutamine
Arsenic trioxide
Caffeine
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is administered in a hospital/clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional. Follow all instructions given by your doctor. Inform the doctor if you have a known history of allergy to this medicine. Report to the doctor all your current medicines including any herbs and supplements as well as your medical conditions before receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine restores normal heart rhythm in patients suffering from certain types of irregular heartbeats. When used during a stress test, it relaxes the arteries and increases blood flow in the coronary arteries (arteries supplying blood to the heart) to simulate the effects of exercise.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Cardiac stressing agents, Group V antiarrhythmics
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. Accessdata.fda.gov. 2018 [cited 11 September 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Medicines.org.uk. 2018 [cited 11 September 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Hpra.ie. 2018 [cited 11 September 2018]. Available from:
DailyMed - Adenosine injection [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 11 September 2018]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 11 Sep 2018
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