Adenosine

See critical care quick reference for drug doses by weight.

General

• Type: Antiarrhythmics
• Dosage Forms:
• Common Trade Names:

Adult Dosing

• 6mg rapid IV bolus over 1-2s
  • If ineffective can try 12mg 2min later
    • If still ineffective can try another 12mg
• Caveat
  • Higher dose (1st 12mg, 2nd/3rd 18mg) in patient taking methylxanthines (ie caffeine, theophylline)
    • Blocks adenosine binding at receptor sites (competitive antagonist)
  • Lower dose (1st 3mg, 2nd/3rd 6mg) in patient taking carbamazepine (Tegretol), diazepam (Valium) or dipyridamole (Persantine) OR with a heart transplant.

Indications

• Conversion of reentrant PSVT to NSR

Pediatric Dosing

See critical care quick reference for drug doses by weight.

Special Populations

• Pregnancy Rating: Category C
• Lactation:
• Renal Dosing
  • Adult
  • Pediatric
• Hepatic Dosing
  • Adult
  • Pediatric

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug
• 2nd, 3rd AV block
• Sick sinus syndrome
• Reentrant SVTs not involving AV node are not terminated
• No effect on anterograde WPW

Adverse Reactions

• Bronchoconstriction (responds to bronchodilators)
• Bradyarrhythmia
• Hypotension(if given too slowly)

Pharmacology

• Kinetics: Onset of action = 20-30s Duration of action = 60-90s
• Half-life:
• Metabolism:
• Excretion:

Mechanism of Action

• Negative inotropic, dromotropic, chronotropic effects
• Transient AV nodal block

References

Authors

Ross Donaldson, Manpreet Singh, Neil Young, Claire, Daniel Ostermayer