Sulfur hexafluoride

Sulfur hexafluoride is a contrast agent that helps make ultrasound images clearer.

Sulfur hexafluoride is used to help see specific parts of the heart, liver, or urinary tract more clearly during an ultrasound exam.

Sulfur hexafluoride may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

For checking the heart or liver, sulfur hexafluoride is given as an infusion into a vein.

For checking the bladder, sulfur hexafluoride is injected directly into the bladder using a catheter that is put into the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your bladder).

Your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be monitored closely for at least 30 minutes after you receive sulfur hexafluoride. This is to ensure you do not have an allergic reaction to the medicine.

In rare cases, serious or fatal reactions may happen during or shortly after the injection. Let your caregivers know immediately if you feel light-headed or short of breath, or if you have a cold sweat, chest pain, a severe headache, fast or slow heartbeats, or pounding in your neck or ears.

You should not receive treatment with sulfur hexafluoride if you are allergic to it.

Inform your doctor if you have ever experienced:

• heart issues, like a heart attack or congestive heart failure;
• a congenital heart defect (especially a condition known as "cardiac shunt"); or
• a lung condition that has recently worsened.

Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, skin redness, rash; warmth, numbness, or tingling; trouble breathing, tight feeling in your throat; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, serious or fatal reactions may occur during or shortly after the injection. Tell your caregivers right away if you have:

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• severe dizziness, or a cold sweat;
• chest pain, wheezing, trouble breathing;
• fast or slow heartbeats;
• a seizure;
• severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears; or
• slow heart rate, a weak pulse, weak or shallow breathing.

Common side effects of sulfur hexafluoride may include:

• nausea;
• headache;
• altered sense of taste;
• feeling hot; or
• pain or warmth 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.

Usual Adult Dose for Diagnostic:

For Intravenous Injection:Echocardiography: 2 mL as an IV injectionUltrasonography of the liver: 2.4 mL as an IV injectionComments: -Reconstitute prior to administration; consult manufacturer product information.-May repeat dose one time during a single examination.-Follow each injection with an IV flush of 5 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride.-Avoid intra-arterial injection.Use: -To opacify the left ventricular chamber and improve the delineation of the left ventricular endocardial border in patients with suboptimal echocardiograms-To localize and characterize hepatic focal lesions through ultrasonography

Usual Pediatric Dose for Diagnostic:

For Intravenous Injection:Echocardiography: 0.03 mL/kg as an IV injection up to a maximum of 2 mL per injectionUltrasonography of the liver: 0.03 mL/ kg as an IV injection, up to a maximum of 2.4 mL per injectionUltrasonography of the Urinary Tract: 1 mL after reconstitution (the bladder can be refilled with 0.9% sodium chloride injection for a second cycle of voiding and imaging, without the need of a second dose of this drug.Comments: -Reconstitute prior to administration; consult manufacturer product information.-Follow each injection with an IV flush of 0.9% sodium chloride.-Avoid intra-arterial injection.Use: -To opacify the left ventricular chamber and improve the delineation of the left ventricular endocardial border in patients with suboptimal echocardiograms-To localize and characterize hepatic focal lesions through ultrasonography-To evaluate vesicoureteral reflux with ultrasonography in pediatric patients.

Since sulfur hexafluoride is given with an ultrasound, sulfur hexafluoride does not have a daily dosing schedule.

Since this medicine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to happen.

Follow your doctor's instructions regarding any restrictions on food, drinks, or activities.

Other drugs may affect sulfur hexafluoride, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Inform your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you begin or stop using.