Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Descriptions


Gadoversetamide injection is used to help diagnose or find problems in the brain, spine, head, neck, liver, and other parts of your body. It is a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Contrast agents are used to help create a clear picture of the different parts of the body during certain medical procedures, such as MRI scans. MRI scans use magnets and computers to create images or “pictures” of certain areas inside the body. Unlike x-rays, they do not involve ionizing radiation.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of gadoversetamide injection in the pediatric population. However, pediatric patients with serious kidney problems may require caution in patients receiving this medicine. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of gadoversetamide injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution in patients receiving gadoversetamide.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Asthma or allergies, history of or
  • Patients who have had prior reactions to contrast media—Use with caution. May increase the likelihood of an allergic reaction.
  • Diabetes or
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
  • Infection, severe—Use with caution. May increase your likelihood of having kidney problems (eg, reduced kidney function).
  • Kidney disease, mild or moderate—Use with caution. May increase the likelihood of serious side effects.
  • Kidney problems, severe (acute or long-term)—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

Proper Use

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine. It is given through a needle placed into one of your veins just before you have an MRI scan.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check you or your child's progress while you are receiving this medicine and during the MRI scan to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

The risk of having a very serious disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is increased in patients with severe kidney disease. Even if you have severe kidney problems, your doctor may decide that it is still important to receive this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have burning, itching, swelling, hardening, or tightening of the skin, red or dark patches on the skin, joint stiffness, limited range of motion in the arms and legs, pain that is deep in the hip bone or ribs, or muscle weakness. These may be symptoms of NSF.

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after using this medicine.

This medicine contains a metal called gadolinium, which can stay in your body (including the brain, bones, skin) for a long time (several months to years). Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

This medicine may increase your risk of having acute kidney injury requiring dialysis. This is more likely in patients with a history of kidney problems or in patients receiving increasing doses of gadoversetamide injection. Talk to your doctor about this risk.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are receiving this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheaded
  2. feeling of warmth or heat
  3. flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
  4. headache
  5. sweating

Rare

  1. Blurred vision
  2. changes in skin color, pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg
  3. chest pain
  4. confusion
  5. constipation
  6. cough
  7. decrease in the amount of urine
  8. depression
  9. difficulty in moving
  10. difficulty swallowing
  11. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  12. dry mouth
  13. fast, slow, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
  14. fever
  15. general feeling of discomfort or illness
  16. hives, itching, skin rash
  17. inability to move the eyes
  18. incoherent speech
  19. increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
  20. increased urination
  21. joint pain or swelling
  22. leg cramp
  23. loss of appetite
  24. metallic taste
  25. muscle ache, pain, cramp, or stiffness
  26. muscle weakness
  27. nausea
  28. neck pain or stiffness
  29. nervousness
  30. paleness of the skin
  31. pelvic pain
  32. pounding in the ears
  33. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  34. sticking out of the tongue
  35. stomach pain
  36. thirst
  37. tightness in the chest
  38. trouble in breathing, speaking, or swallowing
  39. uncontrolled twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs
  40. unusual facial expressions
  41. unusual tiredness or weakness
  42. vomiting
  43. weight loss

Incidence not known

  1. Areas of the skin that turned red or dark or feel tight
  2. difficulty or noisy breathing
  3. incoordination
  4. muscle weakness
  5. numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
  6. paralysis or severe weakness of the legs
  7. seizures
  8. stiffness of the arms or legs
  9. uncontrolled bowel movements
  10. uncontrolled movements of the body

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  1. Bad unusual or unpleasant (after) taste
  2. bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
  3. change in taste

Less Common

  1. Back pain
  2. diarrhea
  3. lack or loss of strength
  4. nausea
  5. runny nose
  6. sneezing
  7. stomach pain
  8. stuffy nose

Rare

  1. Anxiety
  2. confusion
  3. constipation
  4. continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
  5. double vision
  6. feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
  7. hearing loss
  8. increased salivation
  9. seeing double
  10. sensation of spinning
  11. voice changes
  12. weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/ar/drugs-supplements/gadoversetamide-intravenous-route/description/drg-20443773