Dosing & Uses
Dosage Forms & Strengths
injectable solution
- 0.25 mol/L
MRI of Liver Lesions
0.1 mL/kg (0.025 mmol/kg) IV bolus; not to exceed infusion rate of 10 mL/15 seconds
Safety and efficacy not established
Adverse Effects
1-10%
Dizziness (1%)
Flushing sensation (1%)
Headache (1%)
Nausea (1%)
Back pain (1%)
<1%
Fatigue
Asthenia
Akathisia
Altered sense of smell
Chest pain
Chills
Dysgeusia
Dyspnea
Hyperhidrosis
Increased blood pressure
Increased serum bilirubin
Maculopapular rash
Malaise
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis
Oral discomfort
Palpitations
Paresthesia
Pruritus
Respiratory distress
Restlessness
Sialorrhea
Skin rash
Tachycardia
Tremor
Vertigo
Vomiting
Xerostomia
Warnings
Black Box Warnings
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis
- Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) increase the risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs
- Avoid use of GBCAs in these patients unless diagnostic information is essential and not available with noncontrasted MRI or other modalities
- NSF may result in fatal or debilitating systemic fibrosis affecting the skin, muscle and internal organs
- Highest risk for NSF is among patients with chronic, severe kidney disease (GFR <30 mL/min/1.73²) OR acute kidney injury
- Screen patients for acute kidney injury and other conditions that may reduce renal function
- For patients at risk for chronically reduced renal function (eg, age >60 years, hypertension or diabetes), estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) through laboratory testing
- For patients at highest risk for NSF, do not exceed recommended dose and allow a sufficient period of time for elimination of the drug from the body prior to readministration
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity; history of allergy/drug reactions
Cautions
Caution in thrombotic syndromes; anemia, hepatic impairment; hemoglobinopathies (sickle cell anemia); history of grand mal seizure
In patients with chronic renal impairment, acute kidney injury sometimes requiring dialysis reported with the use of some gadolinium-based contrast agents; risk of acute kidney injury might be lower with gadoxetate due to its dual excretory pathways; do not exceed recommended dose
Risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients w/ acute or chronic severe renal insufficiency, hepatorenal syndrome or in perioperative liver transplantation period
Screen patients for kidney disease before use and monitor renal function afterward; nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) associated with use of gadolinium contrast media in patients with kidney disease; do not exceed recommended dose
Risk of hypotension
Tissue damage/reactions reported with extravasation
Gadolinium retention
- Gadolinium is retained for months or years in several organs
- Highest concentrations (nanomoles per gram of tissue) have been identified in the bone, followed by other organs (eg, brain, skin, kidney, liver, and spleen)
- Duration of retention also varies by tissue and is longest in bone
- Patients requiring multiple lifetime doses, pregnant and pediatric patients, and patients with inflammatory conditions are at higher risk of gadolinium retention
Brain deposits
- FDA investigated the risk of brain deposits following repeated use of GBCAs for MRI in 2015
- Publications in the medical literature have reported that deposits of GBCAs remain in the brains of some patients who undergo ≥4 contrast MRI scans, long after the last administration
- As of 2017, the FDA review had not identified adverse health effects from gadolinium retained in the brain after the use of GBCAs MRI; all GBCAs may be associated with some gadolinium retention in the brain and other body tissues
- Early data in rat studies show that linear GBCAs are more prone to dissociation into free gadolinium and demonstrate greater brain deposition than macrocyclic GBCAs, which are less prone to dissociation
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy
GBCAs cross the placenta and result in fetal exposure and gadolinium retention
Human data on the association between GBCAs and adverse fetal outcomes are limited and inconclusive
Estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown
All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes
Lactation
Estimated infant exposure is 0.001%-0.04% of the maternal dose
Unknown whether the effects of the drug on the breastfed infant or the effects of the drug on milk production
Developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered together with the mother’s clinical need for the drug and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant or from underlying maternal condition
Pregnancy Categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk. C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done. D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk. X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist. NA: Information not available.Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Paramagnetic agent; exposure to external magnetic field in gadopentetate may induce a large magnetic field. The local magnetism may change proton density and spin characteristics, which it is then detected by the imaging device
Pharmacokinetics
Half-life: 0.91-0.95 hr
Excretion: Urine, feces
Vd: 0.21 L/kg
Protein binding: <10%
Images
Formulary
Adding plans allows you to compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
To view formulary information first create a list of plans. Your list will be saved and can be edited at any time.
Adding plans allows you to:
- View the formulary and any restrictions for each plan.
- Manage and view all your plans together – even plans in different states.
- Compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
- Access your plan list on any device – mobile or desktop.
