The Basics
What is Gadodiamide?
Used in MRI scans to help diagnose or find problems in the brain, spine, chest, stomach, hip area, and other parts of your body.
Brand names for Gadodiamide
Omniscan
How Gadodiamide is classified
Contrast Media, Diagnostic Agents
Gadodiamide During Pregnancy
Gadodiamide pregnancy category
Category CNote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.
What we know about taking Gadodiamide while pregnant
OMNISCAN has been shown to have an adverse effect on embryo-fetal development in rabbits at dosages as low as 0.5 mmol/kg/day for 13 days during gestation (approximately 0.6 times the human dose based on a body surface area comparison). These adverse effects are observed as an increased incidence of flexed appendages and skeletal malformations which may be due to maternal toxicity since the body weight of the dams was reduced in response to OMNISCAN administration during pregnancy. In rat studies, fetal abnormalities were not observed at doses up to 2.5 mmol/kg/day for 10 days during gestation (1.3 times the maximum human dose based on a body surface area comparison); however, maternal toxicity was not achieved in these studies and a definitive conclusion about teratogenicity in rats at doses above 2.5 mmol/kg/day cannot be made. Adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women have not been conducted. OMNISCAN should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Taking Gadodiamide While Breastfeeding
What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Gadodiamide?
Gadodiamide releases more free gadolinium than some other gadolinium-containing contrast agents. However, guidelines developed by several North American professional organizations state that breastfeeding need not be disrupted after a nursing mother receives a gadolinium-containing contrast medium.[1][2][3] Other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Maternal / infant drug levels
Gadodiamide releases more free gadolinium than some other gadolinium-containing contrast agents. However, guidelines developed by several North American professional organizations state that breastfeeding need not be disrupted after a nursing mother receives a gadolinium-containing contrast medium.[1][2][3] Other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Possible effects of Gadodiamide on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Possible alternatives to Gadodiamide
Gadobenate, Gadobutrol, Gadopentetate, Gadoteridol, Gadoterate.
List of References
Lactation sources: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/1. American College of Radiology Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media. Administration of contrast media to breast-feeding mothers. In, ACR manual on contrast media. 2017;Version 10.3:102-3. https://www.acr.org/~/media/37D84428BF1D4E1B9A3A2918DA9E27A3.pdf
2. Patenaude Y, Pugash D, Lim K et al. The use of magnetic resonance imaging in the obstetric patient. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2014;36:349-55. PMID: 24798674
3. Committee Opinion No. 723: Guidelines for Diagnostic Imaging During Pregnancy and Lactation. Obstet Gynecol. 2017;130:e210-e216. PMID: 28937575
4. Acar S, Keskin-Arslan E, Erol-Coskun H et al. Gadodiamide use during breastfeeding. Reprod Toxicol. 2018;80:59-60. Abstract. DOI: doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2018.07.071
Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions.
