Which drug is typically used during a Nuclear Stress Test?

During a Nuclear Stress Test, the primary purpose is to assess the blood flow to the heart muscle during stress conditions. While Thallium is used as a radioactive tracer in the context of the test, it is not a drug administered to induce stress. Instead, the correct focus in this situation is on agents utilized to simulate the effects of exercise or stress on the heart.

Adenosine, specifically, is frequently used as a pharmacologic agent in Nuclear Stress Tests to induce stress in patients who cannot undergo physical exercise. It causes vasodilation of the coronary arteries, leading to increased blood flow to the heart and helping to identify areas with poor blood supply.

Dobutamine, although also used in stress testing to simulate physical exertion in patients who are unable to exercise, is less common compared to adenosine for certain types of nuclear imaging. Therefore, when considering the drug typically used to induce stress during a Nuclear Stress Test, adenosine is generally the favored choice due to its effectiveness in this context.