What is MultiHance? Uses, warnings & side effects

How to take MultiHance

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

• 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 how often 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.

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

• You might also receive other medicine before you are given the contrast dye.

• Tell your caregiver right away if any of this medicine gets on your skin. A caregiver might need to take your blood pressure, temperature, or pulse during the test.

• You might need to stay for awhile after the test is done.

What to do if you miss a dose of MultiHance

MultiHance contraindications - Who shouldn't take MultiHance?

• This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to gadobenate dimeglumine or similar medicines, or benzyl alcohol.

• Make sure your doctor and the person who gives you this medicine know if you have had an allergic reaction to any contrast dye.

MultiHance warnings

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, anemia or any other blood disorder, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, heart rhythm problems (including arrhythmia), high blood pressure, seizures, or a history of an allergic reaction to any contrast agent. Tell your doctor if you have any allergic respiratory diseases or Dubin-Johnson syndrome. Tell your doctor if you have ever received a GBCA.

• This medicine may cause the following problems:Kidney problemsHearth rhythm problems

• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

• Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

• Muscle stiffness or weakness, stiff joints or trouble moving, or deep bone pain.

• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.

• Pale lips or tongue.

• Ringing in the ears or blurred vision.

• Severe headache or body pains.

• Severe rash or redness on your skin.

• Skin rash, swelling, hardness, tightness, burning, itching, or red or dark patches.

• Trouble breathing.

• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you have severe kidney problems or liver disease. Also tell your doctor if you have just had a liver transplant or if you are going to have a transplant. The use of a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) during an MRI should be avoided in patients with severe kidney problems, patients with severe kidney problems due to a severe liver disorder (hepato-renal syndrome), or patients with severe kidney problems before, during, or after a liver transplant. The risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a very serious disease affecting the skin, muscle, and internal organs, may be increased. Your doctor may do some tests before your MRI to make sure your kidneys are working properly. Even if you have kidney problems or liver disease, your doctor may decide that it is still important to use the contrast dye. If you are on hemodialysis and treated with this contrast dye, your doctor may perform hemodialysis immediately after you receive the contrast agent.

• Tell your doctor and the person who does the test if you are allergic to iodine, or if you have asthma or any type of allergy. This includes hay fever and food allergy.

• Make sure your health caregiver knows if you have diabetes, sickle cell disease, thyroid problems, or pheochromocytoma (a tumor on the adrenal gland). Tell your caregiver if you have cancer, especially if you have multiple myeloma. Make sure your doctor knows if you have high blood pressure, blood circulation problems, or heart disease.

• 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.

• Severe pain while the dye is being injected, or stomach or back pain afterwards.

• Shakiness, fast heartbeat, trouble breathing.

• Skin swelling, hardness, tightness, burning, itching, or red or dark patches.

• Stiff joints or trouble moving, deep bone pain.

• Sudden or severe headache.

• Yellow spots on your eyes.

MultiHance interactions & what to avoid when taking MultiHance

• Some medicines can affect how gadobenate works. Tell your doctor if you are using cisplatin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, etoposide, methotrexate, paclitaxel, tamoxifen, or vincristine.

• Tell your doctor if you have severe kidney disease. Also tell your doctor if you had a liver transplant recently or if you are going to have a transplant. 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 use this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have burning or itching of the skin; red or dark patches on the skin; skin swelling, hardening, or tightening; joint stiffness; limited range of motion in the arms and legs; pain that is deep in the hip bone or ribs; or muscle weakness after you get the injection. These may be symptoms of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

• Tell your doctor right away if you have mild, burning pain; feeling of warmth or coldness; or redness at the injection site.

• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

• Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

• This medicine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor or nurse right away if you have cold, clammy skin; confusion; dizziness; lightheadedness; a skin rash; itching; sweating; swelling of the face, tongue, and throat; trouble with breathing; or chest pain after you receive the medicine.

• Make sure your doctor knows about all other medicines you are using. Different contrast dyes have different drug and food concerns. Some other things that affect other drugs and foods are what kind of test is being done and what part of your body is being tested.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin®).

• Tell your doctor and the person who does the test if you are allergic to iodine, or if you have asthma or any type of allergy. This includes hay fever and food allergy.

• Make sure your health caregiver knows if you have diabetes, sickle cell disease, thyroid problems, or pheochromocytoma (a tumor on the adrenal gland). Tell your caregiver if you have cancer, especially if you have multiple myeloma. Make sure your doctor knows if you have high blood pressure, blood circulation problems, or heart disease.

• 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.