Drug Notes

Gadobenate dimeglumine (By injection)

Gadobenate Dimeglumine (gad-oh-BEN-ate dye-MEG-loo-meen)

Used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Helps your doctor to see images of your brain, spine, and other parts of your body. This medicine is a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA).

Brand Name(s):

Multihance

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

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

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are using cancer medicines such as cisplatin (Platinol®), etoposide (VePesid®), methotrexate (Folex®, Rheumatrex®), paclitaxel (Taxol®), tamoxifen (Nolvadex®), anthracyclines (such as daunorubicin, doxorubicin, Adriamycin®, or DaunoXome®), or vinca alkaloids (such as vincristine, Oncovin®).

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, anemia, any other blood disorder, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, heart rhythm problems (such as 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 a disorder like Dubin-Johnson syndrome. Tell your doctor if you have recently received a GBCA.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, or blood in your urine.
• Cold feeling, seizures, tremors, or increased salivation.
• Dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat.
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
• 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.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Bad taste in your mouth.
• Constipation, or mild stomach pain.
• Increased cough, difficulty with swallowing.
• Increased sweating.
• Mild skin rash or itching.
• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed.
• Warmth or redness in your face, neck, arms, or upper chest.
• Weakness and muscle pain.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 1/27/2017