Antiarrhythmic (Adenosine Receptor Agonist)

Adenosine (IV — SVT Termination)

Brand names: Adenocor

Adenosine is used to terminate supraventricular tachycardia involving the AV node and as a diagnostic aid in broad/narrow-complex tachycardia.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

US labelling (FDA)

Reference — US labelling, may differ from UK

topical use only

Source: US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed), label dated 2023-07-11. Accessed 2026-06-12. US dosing and indications can differ from UK practice — use UK sources for prescribing decisions.

Clinical monograph

How it works

It briefly slows or blocks AV-node conduction by activating adenosine receptors, interrupting the re-entry circuit; its half-life is only seconds.

Prescribing in practice

Give as a rapid intravenous bolus into a large/central vein followed immediately by a saline flush, with continuous ECG and resuscitation facilities.
Warn the patient of brief, distressing but transient effects — flushing, chest tightness and a sense of impending doom; transient asystole occurs as it works.
Avoid in asthma (bronchospasm); dipyridamole potentiates it (reduce dose) and theophylline antagonises it.

Monitoring

Continuous ECG and clinical monitoring during administration.

Counselling the patient

You may briefly feel flushed, breathless or have a sense of dread — this passes within seconds.

Evidence & guidelines

First-line to terminate AV-nodal re-entrant SVT (Resuscitation Council UK), used with continuous monitoring.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK ALS 2021; ESC Arrhythmia Guidelines 2019; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways