What Is Adenocard? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know in 2026

If you or a family member has been told they need Adenocard, or if you received it in the emergency room and are trying to understand what happened, this guide is for you. Adenocard is a fast-acting medication used to stop a dangerous type of rapid heartbeat — and while the experience of receiving it can be jarring, it is one of the most effective cardiac drugs available.

What Is Adenocard?

Adenocard is the brand name for adenosine injection, a sterile intravenous (IV) solution containing 3 mg of adenosine per milliliter. Adenosine is a naturally occurring compound in the body — it is a nucleoside that plays key roles in cellular energy production and signaling. As a medication, it is classified as a Group V antiarrhythmic and a cardiac stressing agent.

Adenocard is not taken as a pill or self-administered at home. It must be given intravenously by a trained healthcare provider — a physician, nurse, or paramedic — in a clinical setting with cardiac monitoring equipment available.

What Is Adenocard Used For?

Adenocard has two main FDA-approved clinical uses:

1. Stopping Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT): PSVT is a condition where your heart suddenly races at 150–250 beats per minute due to an abnormal electrical circuit in the heart. Adenocard interrupts this circuit and resets the heart to its normal rhythm. It is the first-line treatment recommended by the American Heart Association for this condition, achieving a conversion rate of approximately 90% at standard doses.
2. Heart Stress Testing (as Adenoscan): In patients who cannot exercise on a treadmill, adenosine (given under the brand name Adenoscan) is used during nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging to dilate the coronary arteries and simulate the effect of physical exercise. This helps cardiologists detect blocked arteries and assess heart function.

What Is Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome?

One common cause of PSVT is Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome — a condition where there is an extra electrical pathway in the heart called an accessory bypass tract. Adenocard is specifically approved for PSVT associated with WPW syndrome, where it blocks the abnormal pathway and restores normal sinus rhythm.

What Are the Standard Doses of Adenocard?

Adenocard dosing is weight-based for children and standardized for adults:

• Adults and children ≥50 kg: Initial dose of 6 mg given as a rapid IV bolus over 1–2 seconds, followed immediately by a 20 mL saline flush. If PSVT is not converted within 1–2 minutes, 12 mg is given by rapid IV push. A second 12 mg dose may be given if needed. Maximum dose: 12 mg per bolus. Doses above 12 mg are not recommended.
• Children <50 kg: 0.05–0.1 mg/kg rapid IV bolus. May increase by 0.05–0.1 mg/kg every 2 minutes to a maximum cumulative dose of 0.3 mg/kg or 12 mg total.

Critical administration detail: The drug must be injected rapidly into a large peripheral vein (antecubital preferred) and immediately flushed with saline, because adenosine's half-life is under 10 seconds. If given too slowly or in a small vein, it may be metabolized before reaching the heart.

Who Should NOT Receive Adenocard?

Adenocard is contraindicated in patients with:

• Second- or third-degree AV block without a functioning pacemaker
• Sick sinus syndrome without a functioning pacemaker
• Known hypersensitivity to adenosine
• Irregular or polymorphic wide-complex tachycardia (risk of ventricular fibrillation)

Is Adenocard a Controlled Substance?

No. Adenocard (adenosine) is not a controlled substance under the DEA's scheduling system. It has no known potential for abuse or physical dependence. You do not need a DEA schedule or controlled substance prescription to receive or administer adenosine.

What Is Adenocard's Generic Name?

The generic name for Adenocard is adenosine. Generic adenosine injection (3 mg/mL) is available from multiple manufacturers and is widely used in hospitals instead of the branded Adenocard. The drugs are therapeutically equivalent.

What Happens After Adenocard Is Given?

About 92% of patients with PSVT convert to normal sinus rhythm within 1 minute of receiving a 12 mg dose of adenosine. After conversion, most patients feel much better almost immediately as their heart rate returns to normal. Your team will continue monitoring your heart rhythm for at least 30–60 minutes to ensure the arrhythmia does not recur.

For a detailed guide on what side effects to expect, see our article on Adenocard side effects. If your facility needs help locating adenosine injection, medfinder can find which pharmacies and distributors near you have it in stock.