Adenosine belongs to a group of medicines called ‘coronary vasodilators’. This medication dilates the coronary arteries (blood supplying vessels of the heart). Adenosine is used before a medical test called ‘cardiac imaging’ to look at the heart. During this test the patient is given a radioactive medicine.

Adenosine works by opening the heart’s blood vessels and thus allows the blood to flow more freely. This ultimately allows the radioactive medicine to get into the heart. The doctor can see the heart and assess the heart condition.

But because of very short acting time period of the drug it's not used clinically for this property. Adenosine is however used as an anti-arrythmic for the rapid treatment of supraventricular tachycardia. It's not effective in case of atrial flutter or fibrillation.