Gadoxetate

The Basics

What is Gadoxetate?

Used to help diagnose certain disorders of the liver in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by allowing blood vessels, organs, and other non-bony tissues to be seen more clearly.

Brand names for Gadoxetate

Eovist

How Gadoxetate is classified

Contrast Media, Diagnostic Agents

Gadoxetate During Pregnancy

Gadoxetate 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 Gadoxetate while pregnant

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of EOVIST in pregnant women. While it is unknown if EOVIST crosses the human placenta, other gadolinium products do cross the placenta in humans and results in fetal exposure. Limited published human data on exposure to other gadolinium products during pregnancy did not show adverse effects in exposed neonates. Embryotoxicity occurred in pregnant rabbits that received daily gadoxetate disodium at 26 times the recommended human dose (mmol/m² basis), and maternal toxicity occurred in pregnant rats at doses 32 times the human dose (mmol/m² basis). EOVIST should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Animal reproductive and developmental toxicity studies were done in rats and rabbits. Gadoxetate disodium was not teratogenic when given intravenously during organogenesis to pregnant rats at doses up to 32 times the recommended single human dose (mmol/m² basis). However, an increase in preimplantation loss was noted at 3.2 times the human dose (mmol/m² basis). Compared to untreated controls, rates of postimplantation loss and absorption increased and litter size decreased when pregnant rabbits received gadoxetate disodium at doses 26 times the recommended human single dose (mmol/m² basis). This occurred without evidence of maternal toxicity. Because pregnant animals received repeated daily doses of EOVIST, their overall exposure was significantly higher than that achieved with the standard single dose administered to humans.

Taking Gadoxetate While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Gadoxetate?

There is no published experience with gadoxetate during breastfeeding. 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] However, because there is no published experience with gadoxetate during breastfeeding, other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Maternal / infant drug levels

There is no published experience with gadoxetate during breastfeeding. 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] However, because there is no published experience with gadoxetate during breastfeeding, other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Possible effects of Gadoxetate on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Gadoxetate

Gadobenate, Gadobutrol, Gadopentetate, Gadoteridol, Gadoterate.