What is Dotarem? Uses, warnings & side effects

How to take Dotarem

• Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein. It is given just before you have an MRI scan.

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you when it should be given. This medicine can be given different ways, depending on what part of your body the doctor needs to see. This medicine may be given through a needle or catheter (plastic tube) placed in one of your veins.

• You will be given this medicine before the test. Some tests can be done right away. For other tests, you might have to wait because the diagnostic agent needs time to get to the correct parts of your body. Your caregiver should tell you how much time there needs to be between giving you the medicine and doing the test.

• Ask your caregiver if you should or should not eat or drink before the test.

• You might be given other medicines along with the diagnostic agent. Tell your doctor if you cannot use a narcotic medicine.

• Make sure your caregiver knows if you are having any other tests. You might need to wait if you are having another medicine for another test.

• Ask your caregiver if you should drink extra fluids for the next 4 to 6 hours after the test, so you will pass more urine. This will prevent the exposure of your bladder from the risks of radiation.

• Sometimes the radioactive part of this medicine will leave your body in your urine. If this is true for the medicine you are using, your caregiver should give you special instructions. Carefully follow all instructions from your doctor. You might have to flush the toilet twice after you go to the bathroom. Use a tissue to wipe up blood or urine spills, then flush the tissue down the toilet. Wash your hands with soap and water after you use the toilet or clean up urine and blood spills. If blood, urine or stools soil the clothing, the clothing should be washed separately.

What to do if you miss a dose of Dotarem

Dotarem contraindications - Who shouldn't take Dotarem?

• This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to gadoterate.

• Make sure your doctor and the person who gives you this medicine know if you have had an allergic reaction to any diagnostic agent. Some names of diagnostic agents are gallium citrate, technetium, thallous chloride, indium, Cardiolite®, Choletec®, Hepatolite®, Miraluma®, NeoTect®, Neurolite®, or Pulmolite®.

Dotarem warnings

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, any type of infection, or a history of asthma or allergies. Tell your doctor if you have recently received another GBCA, or if you have had an allergic reaction to any contrast agent.

• This medicine may cause the following problems:Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF)Acute kidney injury

• 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 about this.

• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant. A woman who is capable of becoming pregnant might need to have this test done during the first 10 days after her menstrual period starts.

• If you are breast feeding an infant, you may need to stop breast feeding for a short time after receiving this medicine. Talk to your doctor about the length of time you need to formula feed your baby.

• Tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to iodine or benzyl alcohol. Make sure your doctor knows if you have diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, or hypocalcemia (low calcium levels). Tell your doctor if you have a kind of tumor called an insulinoma. Make sure your doctor knows if you have problems with your pancreas or gallbladder, or if you have pulmonary hypertension (high pressure in your lungs).

• While using this medicine, you may be exposed to radiation. Talk to your doctor about the risks and about precautions you need to take.

• If you are having a test done on your heart, tell your caregiver right away if you have any chest pain, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness, uneven heartbeat, or lightheadedness during the test.

• Gallium will stay in your body for a longer time than other diagnostic agents. Ask your caregiver for special follow-up instructions if you will be receiving gallium.

• The specific test you are having might have its own side effects or risks. Talk with you health caregiver about the test and what you should expect during and after the test.

• Skin rash, severe itching or redness.

• Warmth or redness in your face, neck, arms, or upper chest.

Dotarem interactions & what to avoid when taking Dotarem

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease or other problems. Tell your doctor if you have recently received another gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA), or if you have a history of asthma or allergies, especially to other contrast agents or drugs.

• Patients who have severe kidney disease have a higher risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a serious condition. Make sure your doctor knows if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, because you are more likely to have kidney problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have tight or hardened skin, stiff joints or muscles, bone pain in your hips or ribs, trouble moving your arms or legs, or muscle weakness. These may be symptoms of NSF.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you have used meperidine (Demerol®) or morphine (OxyContin®, Roxanol®) recently.

• If you are breast feeding an infant, you may need to stop breast feeding for a short time after receiving this medicine. Talk to your doctor about the length of time you need to formula feed your baby.

• Tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to iodine or benzyl alcohol. Make sure your doctor knows if you have diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, or hypocalcemia (low calcium levels). Tell your doctor if you have a kind of tumor called an insulinoma. Make sure your doctor knows if you have problems with your pancreas or gallbladder, or if you have pulmonary hypertension (high pressure in your lungs).

• While using this medicine, you may be exposed to radiation. Talk to your doctor about the risks and about precautions you need to take.

• If you are having a test done on your heart, tell your caregiver right away if you have any chest pain, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness, uneven heartbeat, or lightheadedness during the test.

• Gallium will stay in your body for a longer time than other diagnostic agents. Ask your caregiver for special follow-up instructions if you will be receiving gallium.

• The specific test you are having might have its own side effects or risks. Talk with you health caregiver about the test and what you should expect during and after the test.