Iohexol (Injection, Intrathecal, Intravenous)

Generic name: Iohexol
Drug class: Non-ionic iodinated contrast media

Usage of Iohexol (Injection, Intrathecal, Intravenous)

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.

Iohexol (Injection, Intrathecal, Intravenous) 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

Arm, back, or jaw pain

chest pain, discomfort, tightness, or heaviness

difficulty breathing

fainting

fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat

nausea

pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck

sweating

swelling in the throat

Less common

Blurred vision

dizziness

fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

temporary vision loss

vomiting

Rare

Confusion

dilated neck veins

dizziness or lightheadedness

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

extreme tiredness or weakness

feeling cold

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

fever

irregular breathing

pale skin

seizures

sensation of spinning

swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs

trouble breathing

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

weight gain

Incidence not known

Agitation

black, tarry stools

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

bloating

bluish color of the fingernails, lips, skin, palms, or nail beds

changes in skin color, pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg

chills

constipation

cough

darkened urine

decreased urine output

depressed mood

diarrhea

difficulty swallowing

discouragement

drowsiness

dry skin and hair

feeling sad or empty

hair loss

headache

hoarseness or husky voice

hives, itching, skin rash

indigestion

irritability

joint or muscle pain

lack of appetite

large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

loss of consciousness

loss of interest or pleasure

lower back or side pain

mood or mental changes

muscle twitching, cramps, and stiffness

nervousness

pale skin, pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site

painful or difficult urination

pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

rapid weight gain

red, irritated eyes

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

sensitivity to heat

slowed heartbeat

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips

stiff neck

swollen glands

throat irritation or tightness

trouble concentrating

trouble sleeping

unusual drowsiness, dullness, or feeling of sluggishness

weight loss

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

Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste

change in taste

Rare

Anxiety

belching

cold sweats

dry mouth

heartburn

increased hunger

indigestion

nightmares

redness of the skin

shakiness

sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

slurred speech

sneezing

stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

stuffy or runny nose

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.

Before taking Iohexol (Injection, Intrathecal, Intravenous)

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.

Breast Feeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

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 not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Metformin

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

Metipranolol

Metoprolol

Nadolol

Nebivolol

Oxprenolol

Penbutolol

Pindolol

Practolol

Propranolol

Sotalol

Timolol

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

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.

Relate drugs

How to use Iohexol (Injection, Intrathecal, Intravenous)

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.

Warnings

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.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

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