A small molecule, not a peptide, that switches on an enzyme controlling energy in cells (AMPK). Mostly a lab tool. No such medicine exists. We have not graded the studies yet. The number of papers in the databases is shown on the page.

PL: No approval. The European medicines database (EMA) lists no such medicine in Poland (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down, so we could not check it directly. EU: No approval. The European medicines database (EMA), which covers EU and national approvals, lists no such medicine (9 October 2026). US: No approval. The FDA drug register has no such medicine.

Short entry. It holds facts from official registers, with no study grade. We are still writing the full description.

AICAR

acadesine · AICA riboside

A small molecule, not a peptide, that switches on an enzyme controlling energy in cells (AMPK). Mostly a lab tool. No such medicine exists.

This site is for information and education only. It does not promote or encourage the use or purchase of the substances described and is not medical advice. Many are not authorised as medicines and their safety has not been established. We sell nothing and have no ties to sellers. For health decisions, consult a doctor.

Type: Acts on metabolism
Stage: Still being studied
Safety: Little data
Doping: Banned in sport, WADA 2026
Risk of fakes: Not known
Checked: Not yet

Safety. In people it was given by drip around heart surgery. We found nothing on use for endurance. Sources: study 1.

Risk of fakes. We found no tests of products sold outside pharmacies.

Is it legal

Where	Status		Checked
PL	No approval	The European medicines database (EMA) lists no such medicine in Poland (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down, so we could not check it directly. Source	Not yet
EU	No approval	The European medicines database (EMA), which covers EU and national approvals, lists no such medicine (9 October 2026). Source	Not yet
US	No approval	The FDA drug register has no such medicine. Source	Not yet

How much research exists

Scientific papers: 2552
Studies with random groups: 12
Registered studies in people: 5

Scientific papers per year 2015–2025

These are search results. A count shows how much exists, not how good the studies are. 1 Nov 2026.

Reported side effects

What doctors, patients and companies reported to the US medicines agency (FDA), and single cases described in medical journals. A report says what happened to someone after taking the substance. It does not prove the substance caused it, and it does not say how often it happens. Reports do not change any grade.

Reports to the FDA (USA)

Reports: 0
Of these, serious: 0

The FDA has no reports. That is not a sign of safety: almost nobody reports substances from outside pharmacies.

Cases described in medical journals

We found no published case of harm.

FDA reports come from openFDA, cases from a PubMed search. The editors have not read these cases yet. Titles stay in the original language. As of 3 Nov 2026.

More papers we found

Studies	Kind of study	Year
Effects of acadesine on myocardial infarction, stroke, and death following surgery. A meta-analysis of the 5 international randomized trials. The Multicenter Study of Perioperative Ischemia (McSPI) Research Group.JAMA	Pooled analysis	1997
Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin.Aging (Albany NY)	Random groups	2022
Running-Induced Systemic Cathepsin B Secretion Is Associated with Memory Function.Cell Metab	Random groups	2016
Predictors of contemporary coronary artery bypass grafting outcomes.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg	Random groups	2014
LD-aminopterin in the canine homologue of human atopic dermatitis: a randomized, controlled trial reveals dosing factors affecting optimal therapy.PLoS One	Random groups	2014
Effect of adenosine-regulating agent acadesine on morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery bypass grafting: the RED-CABG randomized controlled trial.JAMA	Random groups	2012
Alternative splice variant PGC-1α-b is strongly induced by exercise in human skeletal muscle.Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab	Random groups	2011
Effects of acadesine on the incidence of myocardial infarction and adverse cardiac outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Multicenter Study of Perioperative Ischemia (McSPI) Research Group.Anesthesiology	Random groups	1995

We found these papers automatically in PubMed. The editors have not read them yet, and they do not affect any grade. Titles stay in the original language.

All papers and studies we found (280)

Short answers

Does AICAR work?: A small molecule, not a peptide, that switches on an enzyme controlling energy in cells (AMPK). Mostly a lab tool. No such medicine exists. We have not graded the studies yet. The number of papers in the databases is shown on the page.
Is AICAR legal?: PL: No approval. The European medicines database (EMA) lists no such medicine in Poland (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down, so we could not check it directly. EU: No approval. The European medicines database (EMA), which covers EU and national approvals, lists no such medicine (9 October 2026). US: No approval. The FDA drug register has no such medicine.
Is AICAR banned in sport?: Banned in sport, WADA 2026.
Is AICAR safe?: Little data. In people it was given by drip around heart surgery. We found nothing on use for endurance.

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