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Adenosine

(Science: biochemistry) a ribonucleotide which consists of the nitrogenous base adenine linked to the sugar ribose.

(Science: drug) a cardiac drug used in terminating PSVT involving reentry pathways that include the av node or wolff-parkinson-white syndrome. For atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, atrial or ventricular tachycardias, adenosine may produce transient av block that may help identify the rhythm.

pharmacologic action: endogenous purine nucleoside that depresses av node and sinus node activity. Brief duration of action (1-2 min).

Dose: Rapid 6 mg iv bolus over 1-3 sec. May repeat at 12 mg iv bolus within 1-2 min patients taking theophylline may require larger doses. Use a smaller dose with cardiac transplant patients.

potential complications: Common but transient - flushing, dyspnea, chest pain, bradycardia, and ventricular ectopy. Theophylline (and caffeine) blocks adenosine's effects. Dipyridamole potentiates adenosine's effects. Use other agents to avoid these drug interactions. (biochemistry) a nucleoside that is a structural component of nucleic acids; it is present in all living cells in a combined form as a constituent of dna and rna and adp and atp and AMP.Adenosine is found in nucleic acids (dna, mrna etc) and also forms part of [[ATP.