Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

1. Omnipaque 140
2. Omnipaque 180
3. Omnipaque 240
4. Omnipaque 300
5. Omnipaque 350
6. Omnipaque Flexipak

Descriptions

Iohexol injection is used to help diagnose or find problems in the brain, back, heart, head, blood vessels, stomach, joints, pancreas, bladder, reproductive tract, and other parts of the body. It is an iodinated contrast agent. Contrast agents are used to create a clear picture of the different parts of the body during certain medical procedures (eg, CT scans).

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

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Solution

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 performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of iohexol injection in children. Some pediatric patients with certain medical conditions (eg, asthma, heart failure, or kidney problems) may have more unwanted side effects which may require caution in patients receiving this medicine.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of iohexol injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted side effects (eg, liver, kidney, or heart problems) which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving this medicine.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during 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. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acebutolol
• Amiodarone
• Atenolol
• Betaxolol
• Bisoprolol
• Carteolol
• Carvedilol
• Celiprolol
• Esmolol
• Labetalol
• Levobunolol
• Metformin
• Metipranolol
• Metoprolol
• Nadolol
• Nebivolol
• Oxprenolol
• Penbutolol
• Pindolol
• Practolol
• Propranolol
• Sotalol
• Timolol

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:

• Alcohol abuse or
• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or
• Kidney disease, severe or
• Liver disease or
• Pheochromocytoma (adrenal problem) or
• Pulmonary hypertension or
• Sickle cell anemia (inherited blood disorder)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Allergy to a contrast agent, history of or
• Asthma—Use with caution. May increase risk of having allergic reactions.

• Cancer in the reproductive tract or
• Infection in the genital area—Should not be used for hysterosalpingography in patients with these conditions.

• Congestive heart failure or
• Dehydration or
• Diabetes or
• Kidney disease or
• Multiple myeloma (cancer of plasma cells) or
• Paraproteinemia (high amount of paraprotein in the blood)—May increase risk of having kidney failure.

• Homocystinuria (genetic disease)—Patients with this condition should avoid undergoing angiography because of the increase risk of having blood clotting problem.

Proper Use

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. It is given through a needle placed into a vein, into your back, into a joint, or other parts of your body.

Your doctor may also give you medicines (eg, allergy medicine, steroids) to help prevent allergic reactions.

Drink extra fluids so you will pass more urine while you are receiving this medicine. This may help prevent kidney problems.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress closely while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it.

You should not receive this medicine for a procedure called hysterosalpingography (reproductive tract imaging) if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, if you are near or have your menstrual period, if you had an abortion within the last 6 months, or if you had a surgery or other procedure in your reproductive tract within the last 30 days.

This medicine may cause heart attack, stroke, and blood clotting problems. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child has chest pain that may spread to your arms, jaw, back, or neck, trouble breathing, nausea, unusual sweating, faintness, coughing up blood, numbness or weakness in your arm or leg, or on one side of your body, sudden or severe headache, or problems with vision, speech, or walking after receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

This medicine may cause hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) in children 3 years of age and younger. Children with congenital (from birth) heart problems may have an increased risk of hypothyroidism. Check with your doctor right away if your child has depressed mood, dry skin and hair, feeling cold, hair loss, hoarseness or a husky voice, muscle cramps and stiffness, slowed heartbeat, weight gain, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have chest tightness, cough, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, fast heartbeat, hives, itching, skin rash, puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness or weakness after you receive this medicine.

Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, fever, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Make sure your doctor knows if you have had an allergic reaction to any dye or medicine given during a test or procedure.

Tell your doctor right away if you or your child has mild, burning pain, feeling of warmth or coldness, peeling of the skin, redness, or swelling at the injection site.

While using this medicine, you may be exposed to radiation. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using iohexol injection. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements. You should not receive iohexol injection together with a steroid medicine into your spinal cord.

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. Arm, back, or jaw pain
2. chest pain, discomfort, tightness, or heaviness
3. difficulty breathing
4. fainting
5. fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
6. nausea
7. pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
8. sweating
9. swelling in the throat

Less common

1. Blurred vision
2. dizziness
3. fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
4. temporary vision loss
5. vomiting

Rare

1. Confusion
2. dilated neck veins
3. dizziness or lightheadedness
4. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
5. extreme tiredness or weakness
6. feeling cold
7. feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
8. fever
9. irregular breathing
10. pale skin
11. seizures
12. sensation of spinning
13. swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
14. trouble breathing
15. unusual bleeding or bruising
16. unusual tiredness or weakness
17. weight gain

Incidence not known

1. Agitation
2. black, tarry stools
3. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
4. bloating
5. bluish color of the fingernails, lips, skin, palms, or nail beds
6. changes in skin color, pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg
7. chills
8. constipation
9. cough
10. darkened urine
11. decreased urine output
12. depressed mood
13. diarrhea
14. difficulty swallowing
15. discouragement
16. drowsiness
17. dry skin and hair
18. feeling sad or empty
19. hair loss
20. headache
21. hoarseness or husky voice
22. hives, itching, skin rash
23. indigestion
24. irritability
25. joint or muscle pain
26. lack of appetite
27. large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
28. loss of consciousness
29. loss of interest or pleasure
30. lower back or side pain
31. mood or mental changes
32. muscle twitching, cramps, and stiffness
33. nervousness
34. pale skin, pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
35. painful or difficult urination
36. pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
37. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
38. rapid weight gain
39. red, irritated eyes
40. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
41. seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
42. sensitivity to heat
43. slowed heartbeat
44. sore throat
45. sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
46. stiff neck
47. swollen glands
48. throat irritation or tightness
49. trouble concentrating
50. trouble sleeping
51. unusual drowsiness, dullness, or feeling of sluggishness
52. weight loss
53. yellow eyes or skin

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:

Less common

1. Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
2. change in taste

Rare

1. Anxiety
2. belching
3. cold sweats
4. dry mouth
5. heartburn
6. increased hunger
7. indigestion
8. nightmares
9. redness of the skin
10. shakiness
11. sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
12. slurred speech
13. sneezing
14. stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
15. stuffy or runny nose
16. uncontrolled eye movements

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/drugs-supplements/iohexol-injection-route-intrathecal-route-intravenous-route/proper-use/drg-20150953