Adenosine by is a Prescription medication manufactured, distributed, or labeled by Hospira, Inc., Gland Pharma Limited. Drug facts, warnings, and ingredients follow.
Adenosine Injection, a pharmacologic stress agent, is indicated as an adjunct to thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients unable to exercise adequately (1)
Recommended dose is 0.14 mg/kg/min infused over six minutes as a continuous peripheral intravenous infusion (total dose of 0.84 mg/kg) (2)
For Injection: 3 mg/mL in single-dose vials (3)
Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥10%) are: flushing; chest discomfort; shortness of breath; headache; throat, neck or jaw discomfort; gastrointestinal discomfort; and dizziness (6.1)
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Hospira, Inc. at 1-800-438-1985 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
See 17 for PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION.
Revised: 2/2020
The recommended adenosine injection dose is 0.14 mg/kg/min infused over six minutes (total dose of 0.84 mg/kg) (Table 1).
Visually inspect adenosine injection for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. Do not administer adenosine injection if it contains particulate matter or is discolored.
There are no data on the safety or efficacy of alternative adenosine injection infusion protocols. The safety and efficacy of adenosine injection administered by the intracoronary route have not been established.
Patient Weight |
Infusion Rate |
45 |
2.1 |
50 |
2.3 |
55 |
2.6 |
60 |
2.8 |
65 |
3 |
70 |
3.3 |
75 |
3.5 |
80 |
3.8 |
85 |
4 |
90 |
4.2 |
The nomogram displayed in Table 1 was derived from the following general formula:
0.14 (mg/kg/min) x total body weight (kg) = Infusion rate (mL/min)
Adenosine injection concentration (3 mg/mL)
Adenosine injection is contraindicated in patients with:
Fatal and nonfatal cardiac arrest, sustained ventricular tachycardia (requiring resuscitation), and myocardial infarction have occurred following adenosine infusion. Avoid use in patients with symptoms or signs of acute myocardial ischemia, for example, unstable angina or cardiovascular instability; these patients may be at greater risk of serious cardiovascular reactions to adenosine injection. Appropriate resuscitative measures should be available [see Overdosage (10)].
Adenosine injection exerts a direct depressant effect on the SA and AV nodes and may cause first-, second- or third-degree AV block, or sinus bradycardia. In clinical trials, approximately 6% of patients developed AV block following adenosine injection administration (first-degree heart block developed in 3%, second-degree in 3%, and third-degree in 0.8% of patients) [see Clinical Trials Experience (6.1)].
Use adenosine injection with caution in patients with pre-existing first-degree AV block or bundle branch block. Do not use in patients with high-grade AV block or sinus node dysfunction (except in patients with a functioning artificial pacemaker). Discontinue adenosine injection in any patient who develops persistent or symptomatic high-grade AV block.
Adenosine injection administration can cause dyspnea, bronchoconstriction, and respiratory compromise. Adenosine injection should be used with caution in patients with obstructive lung disease not associated with bronchoconstriction (e.g., emphysema, bronchitis). Do not use in patients with bronchoconstriction or bronchospasm (e.g., asthma). Discontinue adenosine injection in any patient who develops severe respiratory difficulties. Resuscitative measures should be available prior to adenosine injection administration [see Clinical Trials Experience (6.1), Overdosage (10), and Clinical Pharmacology (12.2)].
Adenosine injection is a potent peripheral vasodilator and can induce significant hypotension. The risk of serious hypotension may be higher in patients with autonomic dysfunction, hypovolemia, stenotic valvular heart disease, pericarditis or pericardial effusions, or stenotic carotid artery disease with cerebrovascular insufficiency. Discontinue adenosine injection in any patient who develops persistent or symptomatic hypotension.
Hemorrhagic and ischemic cerebrovascular accidents have occurred. Hemodynamic effects of adenosine injection including hypotension or hypertension can be associated with these adverse reactions. [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) and (5.9)].
New-onset or recurrence of convulsive seizures has occurred following adenosine injection. Some seizures are prolonged and require emergent anticonvulsive management. Aminophylline may increase the risk of seizures associated with adenosine injection. Methylxanthine use is not recommended in patients who experience seizures in association with adenosine injection administration [see Overdosage (10)].
Dyspnea, throat tightness, flushing, erythema, rash, and chest discomfort have occurred. Symptomatic treatment may be required. Have personnel and appropriate treatment available. Resuscitative measures may be necessary if symptoms progress. [see Post-Marketing Experience (6.2)].
Adenosine injection can cause atrial fibrillation in patients with or without a history of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation typically began 1.5 to 3 minutes after initiation of adenosine injection, lasted for 15 seconds to 6 hours, and spontaneously converted to normal sinus rhythm [see Post-Marketing Experience (6.2)].
Adenosine injection can induce clinically significant increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Most increases resolved spontaneously within several minutes, but in some cases, hypertension lasted for several hours [see Clinical Trials Experience (6.1)].
The following adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in other sections of the prescribing information:
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The following adverse reactions, with an incidence of at least 1%, were reported with adenosine injection among 1,421 patients in clinical trials. 11% of the adverse reactions occurred several hours after adenosine injection administration. 8% of the adverse reactions began with adenosine infusion and persisted for up to 24 hours.
The most common (incidence ≥10%) adverse reactions to adenosine injection are flushing, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, headache, throat, neck or jaw discomfort, gastrointestinal discomfort, and dizziness (Table 2).
Adverse Reactions |
Adenosine Injection |
Flushing |
44% |
Chest discomfort |
40% |
Dyspnea |
28% |
Headache |
18% |
Throat, neck or jaw discomfort |
15% |
Gastrointestinal discomfort |
13% |
Lightheadedness/dizziness |
12% |
Upper extremity discomfort |
4% |
ST segment depression |
3% |
First-degree AV block |
3% |
Second-degree AV block |
3% |
Paresthesia |
2% |
Hypotension |
2% |
Nervousness |
2% |
Arrhythmias |
1% |
Adverse reactions to adenosine injection of any severity reported in less than 1% of patients include:
Body as a Whole: |
back discomfort, lower extremity discomfort, weakness |
Cardiovascular System: |
myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmia, third-degree AV block, bradycardia, palpitation, sinus exit block, sinus pause, T-wave changes, hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 200 mm Hg) |
Respiratory System: |
cough |
Central nervous System: |
drowsiness, emotional instability, tremors |
Genital/Urinary System: |
Vaginal pressure, urgency |
Special Senses: |
blurred vision, dry mouth, ear discomfort, metallic taste, nasal congestion, scotomas, tongue discomfort |
The following adverse reactions have been reported from marketing experience with adenosine injection. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, are associated with concomitant diseases and multiple drug therapies and surgical procedures, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Cardiac Disorders: |
cardiac arrest, atrial fibrillation, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction, tachycardia, ventricular arrhythmia |
Gastrointestinal Disorders: |
nausea and vomiting |
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: |
chest pain, injection site reaction, infusion site pain |
Immune System Disorders: |
hypersensitivity |
Nervous System Disorders: |
cerebrovascular accident including intracranial hemorrhage, seizure activity including tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures, loss of consciousness |
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: |
bronchospasm, respiratory arrest, throat tightness |
Adenosine injection has been given with other cardioactive drugs (such as beta adrenergic blocking agents, cardiac glycosides, and calcium channel blockers) without apparent adverse interactions, but its effectiveness with these agents has not been systematically evaluated. Because of the potential for additive or synergistic depressant effects on the SA and AV nodes, however, adenosine injection should be used with caution in the presence of these agents [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with adenosine; nor have studies been performed in pregnant women. Because it is not known whether adenosine injection can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women, adenosine injection should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
It is not known whether adenosine injection is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from adenosine injection in nursing infants, the decision to interrupt nursing after administration of adenosine injection or not to administer adenosine injection, should take into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
The safety and effectiveness of adenosine injection in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established.
Clinical studies with adenosine injection did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged younger than 65 years to determine whether they respond differently. Other reported experience has not revealed clinically relevant differences of the response of elderly in comparison to younger patients.
The half-life of adenosine is less than 10 seconds and adverse reactions of adenosine injection usually resolve quickly when the infusion is discontinued, although delayed or persistent reactions have been observed. Methylxanthines, such as caffeine, aminophylline, and theophylline, are competitive adenosine receptor antagonists and theophylline has been used to terminate persistent adverse reactions. In clinical trials, theophylline (50 to 125 mg slow intravenous injection) was used to attenuate adenosine injection adverse reactions in approximately 2% of patients. Methylxanthine use is not recommended in patients who experience seizures in association with adenosine injection [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].
Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside and is chemically described as 6-amino-9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-9-H-purine. Adenosine has the following structural formula:
The molecular formula for adenosine is C10H13N5O4 and its molecular weight is 267.24.
Adenosine is a white, odorless crystalline powder. It is slightly soluble in water and practically insoluble in alcohol. Solubility increases by warming and lowering the pH of the solution.
Each Adenosine Injection vial contains a sterile, non-pyrogenic solution of adenosine 3 mg/mL and sodium chloride 9 mg/mL in water for injection, with pH between 4.5 and 7.5.
Adenosine causes cardiac vasodilation which increases cardiac blood flow. Adenosine is thought to exert its pharmacological effects through activation of purine receptors (cell-surface A1 and A2 adenosine receptors). Although the exact mechanism by which adenosine receptor activation relaxes vascular smooth muscle is not known, there is evidence to support both inhibition of the slow inward calcium current reducing calcium uptake, and activation of adenylate cyclase through A2 receptors in smooth muscle cells. Adenosine may also lessen vascular tone by modulating sympathetic neurotransmission. The intracellular uptake of adenosine is mediated by a specific transmembrane nucleoside transport system. Once inside the cell, adenosine is rapidly phosphorylated by adenosine kinase to adenosine monophosphate, or deaminated by adenosine deaminase to inosine. These intracellular metabolites of adenosine are not vasoactive.
Myocardial uptake of thallium-201 is directly proportional to coronary blood flow. Since adenosine injection significantly increases blood flow in normal coronary arteries with little or no increase in stenotic arteries, adenosine injection causes relatively less thallium-201 uptake in vascular territories supplied by stenotic coronary arteries i.e., a greater difference is seen after adenosine injection between areas served by normal and areas served by stenotic vessels than is seen prior to adenosine injection.
Hemodynamic Effects
Adenosine produces a direct negative chronotropic, dromotropic and inotropic effect on the heart, presumably due to A1-receptor agonism, and produces peripheral vasodilation, presumably due to A2-receptor agonism. The net effect of adenosine injection in humans is typically a mild to moderate reduction in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure associated with a reflex increase in heart rate. Rarely, significant hypotension and tachycardia have been observed [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].
Distribution
Intravenously administered adenosine distributes from the circulation via cellular uptake, primarily by erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells. This process involves a specific transmembrane nucleoside carrier system that is reversible, non-concentrative, and bidirectionally symmetrical.
Metabolism
Intracellular adenosine is metabolized either via phosphorylation to adenosine monophosphate by adenosine kinase, or via deamination to inosine by adenosine deaminase in the cytosol. Since adenosine kinase has a lower Km and Vmax than adenosine deaminase, deamination plays a significant role only when cytosolic adenosine saturates the phosphorylation pathway. Inosine formed by deamination of adenosine can leave the cell intact or can be degraded to hypoxanthine, xanthine, and ultimately uric acid. Adenosine monophosphate formed by phosphorylation of adenosine is incorporated into the high-energy phosphate pool.
Elimination
While extracellular adenosine is primarily cleared from plasma by cellular uptake with a half-life of less than
10 seconds in whole blood, excessive amounts may be deaminated by an ecto-form of adenosine deaminase.
Specific Populations
Renal Impairment
As adenosine does not require renal function for its activation or inactivation, renal impairment would not be expected to alter its effectiveness or tolerability.
Hepatic Impairment
As adenosine does not require hepatic function for its activation or inactivation, hepatic impairment would not be expected to alter its effectiveness or tolerability.
Studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate adenosine's carcinogenic potential or potential effects on fertility. Adenosine was negative for genotoxic potential in the Salmonella (Ames Test) and Mammalian Microsome Assay.
Adenosine, however, like other nucleosides at millimolar concentrations present for several doubling times of cells in culture, is known to produce a variety of chromosomal alterations.
In two crossover comparative studies involving 319 subjects who could exercise (including 106 healthy volunteers and 213 patients with known or suspected coronary disease), adenosine injection and exercise thallium images were compared by blinded observers. The images were concordant for the presence of perfusion defects in 85.5% of cases by global analysis (patient by patient) and up to 93% of cases based on vascular territories.
In the two studies, 193 patients also had recent coronary arteriography for comparison (healthy volunteers were not catheterized). The sensitivity for detecting angiographically significant disease (≥ 50% reduction in the luminal diameter of at least one major vessel) was 64% for adenosine injection and 64% for exercise testing. The specificity was 54% for adenosine injection and 65% for exercise testing. The 95% confidence limits for adenosine injection sensitivity were 56% to 78% and for specificity were 37% to 71%.
Intracoronary Doppler flow catheter studies have demonstrated that a dose of intravenous adenosine injection of 0.14 mg/kg/min produces maximum coronary hyperemia (relative to intracoronary papaverine) in approximately 95% of cases within two to three minutes of the onset of the infusion. Coronary blood flow velocity returns to basal levels within one to two minutes of discontinuing the adenosine infusion.
How Supplied
Adenosine Injection, USP is supplied as 20 mL and 30 mL vials of sterile, nonpyrogenic, preservative-free, solution in normal saline:
Unit of Sale | Concentration |
---|---|
NDC: 0409-1932-01 20 mL single-dose vial | 60 mg/20 mL (3 mg/mL) |
NDC: 0409-1932-02 30 mL single-dose vial | 90 mg/30 mL (3 mg/mL) |
Storage and Handling
Manufactured by:
Gland Pharma Limited,
Hyderabad 500043, India
Distributed by Hospira, Inc., Lake Forest, IL 60045 USA
LAB-1308-4.0
20 mL
Single-Dose Vial
NDC: 0409-1932-01
Rx only
Adenosine
Injection, USP
60 mg/20 mL
(3 mg/mL)
Sterile
For Intravenous
Infusion Only
Hospira
20 mL
Single-Dose Vial
NDC: 0409-1932-01
Rx only
Adenosine
Injection, USP
60 mg/20 mL
(3 mg/mL)
Sterile
For Intravenous
Infusion Only
Hospira
30 mL
Single-Dose Vial
NDC: 0409-1932-02
Rx only
Adenosine
Injection, USP
90 mg/30 mL
(3 mg/mL)
Sterile
For Intravenous
Infusion Only
Hospira
30 mL
Single-Dose Vial
NDC: 0409-1932-02
Rx only
Adenosine
Injection, USP
90 mg/30 mL
(3 mg/mL)
Sterile
For Intravenous
Infusion Only
Hospira
ADENOSINE
adenosine injection, solution |
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Labeler - Hospira, Inc. (141588017) |
Establishment | |||
Name | Address | ID/FEI | Business Operations |
---|---|---|---|
Gland Pharma Limited | 918601238 | ANALYSIS(0409-1932) , MANUFACTURE(0409-1932) , PACK(0409-1932) |