Iohexol (Oral)

Iohexol is used to help identify issues in the bowels during a CT scan of the stomach, bowels, and pelvis. It is an iodinated contrast agent. Contrast agents are used to provide a clear image of various parts of the body during specific medical procedures.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the supervision of your doctor.

Your doctor will closely monitor you or your child's progress while taking this medicine. This helps your doctor see if the medicine is working properly and decide whether to continue treatment.

This medicine may lead to heart attack, stroke, and blood clotting issues. Contact your doctor immediately if you or your child experiences chest pain that may spread to the arms, jaw, back, or neck, trouble breathing, nausea, unusual sweating, fainting, coughing up blood, numbness or weakness in the arm or leg, or on one side of the body, sudden or severe headache, or issues with vision, speech, or walking after taking this medicine.

This medicine can cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical help. Inform your doctor right away if you have chest tightness, cough, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, fast heartbeat, hives, itching, skin rash, swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness or weakness after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may lead to hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) in children aged 3 years and younger. Children with congenital (from birth) heart problems may have a higher risk of hypothyroidism. Contact your doctor immediately if your child shows signs such as a 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.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience bloody urine, a decrease in how often or how much you urinate, increased blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, pain in the lower back or side, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be signs of a serious kidney issue.

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. Contact 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 any doctor or dentist treating you knows you are using iohexol. This medicine may affect the results of some medical tests.

While using this medicine, you may be exposed to radiation. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.

Do not take other medicines without discussing them with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a diagnostic test, it is important to consider the risks of the test compared to the benefits it will provide. This is a choice you will make with your doctor. Other factors may also affect the test results. For this test, keep the following in mind:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your health care professional know if you have any other types of allergies, including to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

Studies conducted so far have not shown any pediatric-specific problems that would limit the effectiveness of iohexol in children.

Geriatric

Studies conducted so far have not shown any geriatric-specific problems that would limit the effectiveness of iohexol in older adults. However, older patients are more likely to experience unwanted side effects (for example, liver, kidney, or heart issues) which may require caution and a dose adjustment for those receiving iohexol.

Breast Feeding

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

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these situations, your doctor may need to adjust the dose or take other precautions. When you are receiving this diagnostic test, it is particularly important that your healthcare professional knows if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential importance and may not include all possibilities.

Receiving this diagnostic test with any of the following medicines is generally not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or the frequency of use for one or both 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 taken at or around mealtime, or with specific types of food, as interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine alongside food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Other medical issues may impact the use of this diagnostic test. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse or
• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or
• Severe kidney disease or
• Liver disease or
• Pheochromocytoma (adrenal problem) or
• Sickle cell anemia (inherited blood disorder)—Use with caution. May worsen these conditions.

• Allergy to a contrast agent, history of or
• Asthma—Use with caution. May increase the risk of allergic reactions.

• Congestive heart failure or
• Dehydration or
• Diabetes or
• Kidney disease or
• Multiple myeloma (cancer of plasma cells) or
• Paraproteinemia (high amount of paraprotein in the blood)—May increase the risk of kidney failure.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. While not all of these side effects may occur, if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

• Blurred vision
• confusion
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• unusual tiredness or weakness

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
• 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.

In the U.S.

• Omnipaque 12
• Omnipaque 9
• Oraltag

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Radiological Non-Ionic Contrast Media

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine in a hospital. It is given by mouth. You will swallow the prepared oral liquid just before a CT scan.

Protect the prepared oral liquid from light and direct exposure to sunlight.

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 before and after taking this medicine. This may help prevent kidney problems.