The recommended intravenous dose for adults is 140 mcg/kg/min infused for six minutes (total dose of 0.84 mg/kg).

Approximately 2.6% and 0.8% of patients developed second- and third-degree AV block, respectively. All episodes of AV block have been asymptomatic, transient, and did not require intervention; less than 1% required termination of adenosine infusion.

Fatal cardiac arrest, sustained ventricular tachycardia (requiring resuscitation), and nonfatal myocardial infarction have been reported coincident with Adenoscan infusion. Patients with unstable angina may be at greater risk.

Side effects that were seen most often included flushing (44%), chest discomfort (40%), and dyspnea (28%). Side effects usually resolve quickly when infusion is terminated and generally do not interfere with test results.

Despite adenosine’s short half-life, 10.6% of the side effects started several hours after the infusion terminated, and 8.4% of the side effects that began during the infusion persisted for up to 24 hours after infusion. In many cases, it is not possible to know whether these late adverse events are the result of Adenoscan infusion.