Some of the views expressed in the following notes on newly approved products should be regarded as preliminary, as there may have been limited published data at the time of publication, and little experience in Australia of their safety or efficacy. However, the Editorial Executive Committee believes that comments made in good faith at an early stage may still be of value. Before new drugs are prescribed, the Committee believes it is important that more detailed information is obtained from the manufacturer's approved product information, a drug information centre or some other appropriate source.
Dotarem (Aspen Pharmacare Australia)
0.5 mmol/mL in 10 mL vials
Approved indication: magnetic resonance imaging
Gadolinium-containing products can be used to enhance the contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Gadoteric acid is inert, but has paramagnetic properties. It can be used in whole body imaging and for brain imaging if the blood-brain barrier is abnormal.
Most of the gadoteric acid is excreted unchanged in the urine within 24 hours. There are no data on giving the product to patients with renal failure.
After intravenous injection of gadoteric acid the most common adverse reactions are headache, paraesthesia and nausea.
In the absence of studies large enough to detect significant differences, it is unknown if gadoteric acid has any advantages over similar contrast agents.
