Magnevist (gadopentetate dimeglumine) is a contrast agent that produces magnetic effects. It is used in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to allow blood vessels, organs, and other non-bony tissues to be seen more clearly on the MRI.
Magnevist is used to help diagnose certain disorders of the brain, blood vessels, and spin (central nervous system).
Magnevist may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information
Magnevist can cause a life-threatening condition in people with advanced kidney disease. The symptoms of this condition include:
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burning, itching, swelling, scaling, and tightening or hardening of your skin;
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muscle weakness;
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joint stiffness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet;
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deep bone pain in your ribs or your hips;
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trouble moving; or
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skin redness or discoloration.
Before receiving Magnevist, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease or if you are on dialysis. You may not be able to receive Magnevist. Also tell your doctor if you have recently received any contrast agent similar to gadopentetate dimeglumine.
Also tell your doctor if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, a heart rhythm disorder, asthma or allergies, if you are over 60 years old, if you have ever had a reaction to a contrast agent, or if you have recently had an injury, surgery, or severe infection.
Your doctor or other healthcare provider may want to watch you for a short time after your test is over. This is to make sure you do not have any unwanted side effects or delayed reactions.
Before receiving Magnevist
Magnevist can cause a life-threatening condition in people with advanced kidney disease. The symptoms of this condition include:
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burning, itching, swelling, scaling, and tightening or hardening of your skin;
-
muscle weakness;
-
joint stiffness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet;
-
deep bone pain in your ribs or your hips;
-
trouble moving; or
-
skin redness or discoloration.
Before receiving Magnevist, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease or if you are on dialysis. You may not be able to receive Magnevist. Also tell your doctor if you have recently received any contrast agent similar to gadopentetate dimeglumine.
To make sure you can safely receive Magnevist, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
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diabetes;
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high blood pressure;
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liver disease;
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a heart rhythm disorder;
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asthma, hay fever, or a history of food or drug allergies;
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if you are over 60 years old;
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if you have ever had any type of reaction to a contrast agent; or
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if you have recently had an injury, surgery, or severe infection.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Magnevist will harm an unborn baby. Before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Gadopentetate dimeglumine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Before you receive Magnevist, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)
How is Magnevist used?
Magnevist is injected into a vein through an IV. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting during your MRI.
Your doctor or other healthcare provider may want to watch you for a short time after your test is over. This is to make sure you do not have any unwanted side effects or delayed reactions.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since Magnevist is used only during your MRI, you will not be on a dosing schedule.
What happens if I overdose?
Since this medication is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.
What should I avoid?
Follow your doctor"s instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
Magnevist side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Magnevist: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
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urinating less than usual or not at all;
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drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, loss of appetite;
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swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath; or
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swelling, bruising, redness, itching, burning, or skin changes where the injection was given.
Less serious Magnevist side effects may include:
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headache, dizziness;
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nausea;
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feeling unusually hot;
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unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth;
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flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);
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numbness; or
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cold feeling, warmth, pain, or burning where the medicine was injected.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Magnevist?
This medication can harm the kidneys in certain people, and this effect may be increased if you also use other medicines harmful to the kidneys. Many other drugs (including some over-the-counter medicines) can harm your kidneys. You may need dose adjustments or special tests if you have recently used any of these medications, such as:
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lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
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methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
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pain or arthritis medicines such as aspirin (Anacin, Excedrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others;
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medicines used to treat ulcerative colitis, such as mesalamine (Pentasa) or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine);
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medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune) or tacrolimus (Prograf);
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IV antibiotics such as amphotericin B (Amphotec, AmBisome, Abelcet), amikacin (Amikin), bacitracin (Baci IM), capreomycin (Capastat), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), streptomycin, or vancomycin (Vancocin, Vancoled);
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antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), adefovir (Hepsera), cidofovir (Vistide), foscarnet (Foscavir), ganciclovir (Cytovene), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or valganciclovir (Valcyte); or
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cancer medicine such as aldesleukin (Proleukin), carmustine (BiCNU, Gliadel), cisplatin (Platinol), ifosfamide (Ifex), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), streptozocin (Zanosar), or tretinoin (Vesanoid).
There may be other drugs that can affect Magnevist. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
