Disclaimer: By writing this post, we are not recommending this drug. Some of our readers requested that we commission a post on it, and we are simply providing information that is available in the clinical and scientific literature. Please discuss your medications with your doctor.

If you are interested in the role of the adenosine naturally produced in the body and its brain- and immune-related pathways, we covered these aspects in two other posts: Adenosine, the Good & 4 Ways to Increase It and Adenosine, the Bad & 4 Ways to Lower it.

This post focuses only on the use of adenosine as a drug.

What Is Adenosine (Adenocard)?

Adenocard is one of the brand names adenosine is available under. The drug is produced under various other trade names, including:

• Adenocor
• Adenic
• Adenoco
• Adeno-Jec
• Adenoscan
• Adenosin
• Adrekar
• Krenosin

Adenosine is approved by the FDA and widely used for treating surgical pain, nerve pain, lung hypertension, and certain types of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias) [R, R, R, R].

It is also used to maintain low blood pressure during medical procedures and to help visualize arteries for diagnosis and aneurysm repair [R, R, R].

Drug Class

Adenosine is classified as a miscellaneous antiarrhythmic drug. Unlike adenosine, other drugs for treating arrhythmias are categorized under classes I to IV of antiarrhythmic agents (Vaughan-Williams classification scheme) [R].

How It Works

Adenosine acts as an activator (agonist) on (purinergic) adenosine receptors throughout the body. Four adenosine receptors have been identified (A1, A2a, A2B, and A3), but as a drug, it mainly activates receptors in the so-called cardiac atrioventricular (AV) nodal tissue and those within the blood vessels to achieve its therapeutic effects [R].

Uses of Adenosine (Adenocard)

Approved Uses

Prescription adenosine is mainly approved for the treatment of irregular heartbeat and for its use as a diagnostic tool. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Take adenosine as recommended and do not change its dose and frequency or stop taking it without your doctor’s approval. Talk to your doctor if your condition doesn’t improve or if it worsens.

1) Irregular Heartbeat (Arrhythmia)

An irregular heartbeat can be triggered by many factors, including mental stress

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What is Policosanol?

Policosanol is a term for a group of long-chain alcohols extracted from the waxy coating of sugar cane. The first policosanol supplement was isolated and produced by researchers at Dalmer Laboratories in Cuba, in the early 90s [R].

It is commonly used for reducing high cholesterol, including total and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and has become one of the fastest-growing over-the-counter supplements sold in the United States [R].

Most of the trials that report benefits from policosanol were conducted by a single research group in Cuba. Trials conducted by other groups have often failed to find any benefits, which is a major drawback to its use [R].

Snapshot

Proponents:

• May reduce blood pressure
• May improve cholesterol levels
• Protects the blood vessels

Skeptics:

• Most benefits stem from questionable Cuban research
• There’s conflicting evidence for the effects on blood lipids
• May interact with blood thinners and statins

Components

The components of policosanol are a mixture of high-molecular-weight alcohols, with the main ones being [R, R]:

• Octacosanol (60 – 70%)
• Triacontanol (10 – 15%)
• Hexacosanol (4.5 – 10%)
• Dotriacontanol (3 – 8%)

Mechanisms of Action

The exact mechanisms of action of policosanol are not completely clear, however, it is thought that policosanol exerts its effects by R]:

• Increasing the breakdown of LDL cholesterol by the liver [R].
• Blocking activity of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in the production of cholesterol [R].
• Reducing blood clotting [R].
• Blocking the activity of serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), thereby increasing HDL and lowering LDL levels [R].

Health Benefits of Policosanol

Possibly Effective:

1) High Blood Pressure

In 589 older patients being treated for both high blood pressure and high cholesterol, one year of policosanol (5 to 10 mg/day) treatment significantly lowered their blood pressure [R].

Policosanol

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What Is Phenethylamine?

Phenethylamine (also known as PEA, β-phenylethylamine, 2-phenylethane-1-amine, and Benzeneethanamine) is a trace amine naturally found in the central nervous system and brain of humans and other mammals. The term “trace amine” refers to the fact that it is found at much lower concentrations than other amines [R, R].

Phenethylamine is produced in tiny amounts throughout the brain and spinal cord and is made from the essential amino acid phenylalanine, which is mainly found in protein-rich foods [R].

It is metabolized by the enzymes monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) and aldehyde dehydrogenase to phenylacetic acid, which is then excreted in the urine [R].

Phenethylamine supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use. Supplements generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Mechanism of Action

Scientists supect that phenethylamine may act by:

• Activating a receptor (TAAR-1) in the brain to trigger the release of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters send chemical signals to different targets in the body causing various responses e.g., happy, sad, scared, awake [R, R].
• Activating TAAR-1, phenethylamine increases the release of serotonin, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine, and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) from neurons. These neurotransmitters affect mood, cognitive function, and mental well-being [R, R, R].
• Potentially preventing the same neurotransmitters from taken back up (through reuptake transporters) by neurons, meaning they stay in the spaces between neurons (synapses) longer and they may have more time to exert their effects [R].

Potential Uses of Phenethylamine

Insufficient Evidence For:

The following purported uses are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies.

There is insufficient evidence to support the use of phenethylamine for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking phenethylamine supplements, which should never be used as a replacement for approved medical therapies.

1) Mood

Phenethylamine increases dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Increasing these neurotransmitters in certain brain areas may, in theory, promote a positive mood and lead to a greater sense of well-being. However,

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