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Adenosine

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Adenosine is a naturally occurring purine nucleoside with a pharmacological half-life < 2 seconds (1).

  • used in the treatment of arrhythmias, and is one of the drugs of choice in the rapid reversal of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

  • cautions include atrial fibrillation or flutter caused by accessory pathways.

Contraindications include second or third degree heart block and sick sinus syndrome.

Side effects include transient facial flush, dyspnoea, a choking sensation, nausea, light-headedness, severe bradycardia which may require pacing, and some transient rhythm disturbances on ECG.

It may be true that adenosine receptors are linked with potassium transport ie it may become a type III drug.

Check the summary of product characteristics before prescribing this drug.

Reference:

  • Camm AJ,Ward DE (1993).Drug treatment of tachycardia. Medicine International, 21(11), 432-6.

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