Adenosine is widely used in medical settings, particularly in cardiology. It is a key drug for treating supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a condition characterized by abnormally fast heart rates. Administered intravenously, adenosine works by briefly slowing electrical conduction through the atrioventricular (AV) node, helping restore normal heart rhythm. Its effects are rapid and short-lived, making it ideal for diagnostic and therapeutic use in acute settings.

It is also used during cardiac stress testing to evaluate blood flow to the heart, especially in patients who cannot exercise. In this context, adenosine induces controlled vasodilation of coronary arteries, allowing imaging techniques like myocardial perfusion scans to detect areas of reduced blood flow.

Beyond clinical applications, adenosine plays a role in cellular energy transfer as a component of ATP and is involved in signaling pathways that regulate sleep, inflammation, and vascular tone. In research, it serves as a building block in nucleic acid studies and in the development of pharmaceuticals targeting purinergic receptors.