Get your patient on Iopamidol - Iopamidol injection, Solution (Iopamidol)

Iopamidol Injection is indicated for intrathecal administration in adult neuroradiology including myelography (lumbar, thoracic, cervical, total columnar), and for contrast enhancement of computed tomographic (CECT) cisternography and ventriculography. Iopamidol Injection, 41% is indicated for thoraco-lumbar myelography in children over the age of two years.

In adults a solution that is approximately isotonic (Iopamidol Injection, 41%) is recommended for examination of the lumbar region. For movement of the contrast medium to distant target areas the more concentrated Iopamidol Injection, 61% preparation should be used to compensate for dilution of Iopamidol Injection with cerebrospinal fluid.

The usual recommended adult dose range for iopamidol is 2000-3000 mg iodine. Iopamidol formulated to contain more than 300 mgI/mL should not be used intrathecally in adults. The minimum dose needed to perform a procedure should always be used.

In pediatric patients , a solution that is approximately isotonic (Iopamidol Injection, 41%) is recommended for all intrathecal procedures. In children, loss of contrast due to mixing on movement of the medium is less apt to occur because of their shorter spinal cord.

The usual recommended pediatric dose range for iopamidol is 1400-2400 mg iodine. Iopamidol formulated to contain more than 200 mgI/mL should not be used intrathecally in children. The minimum dose needed to perform a procedure should always be used. See pediatric dosage table for recommended dosage .

Anesthesia is not necessary. However, young children may require general anesthesia for technical reasons. Premedication with sedatives or tranquillizers is usually not needed. In patients with a history of seizure activity who are not on anticonvulsant therapy, premedication with barbiturates or phenytoin should be considered.

Lumbar puncture is usually made between L3 and L4; if pathology is suspected at this level, the interspace immediately above or below may be selected. A lateral cervical puncture may also be used.

Rate of Injection: To avoid excessive mixing with cerebrospinal fluid and consequent loss of contrast as well as premature cephalad dispersion, injection must be made slowly over one to two minutes; the needle may then be removed.

An interval of at least 48 hours should be allowed before repeat examination; however, whenever possible five to seven days is recommended.

As with all radiopaque contrast agents, only the lowest dose of Iopamidol Injection necessary to obtain adequate visualization should be used. A lower dose reduces the possibility of an adverse reaction. Most procedures do not require use of either a maximum dose or the highest available concentration of Iopamidol Injection; the combination of dose and Iopamidol Injection concentration to be used should be carefully individualized, and factors such as age, body size, anticipated pathology and degree and extent of opacification required, structure(s) or area to be examined, disease processes affecting the patient, and equipment and technique to be employed should be considered. Following are the usual recommended pediatric and adult doses of Iopamidol Injection.

The pediatric doses listed below, intended as a guideline, are based on age rather than weight because the brain and CSF capacity is independent of weight. Variations will depend on such factors as height, suspected pathology, the patient’s condition, technique used, etc. (e.g. CT or standard radiology or movement of the contrast media directed distal to the site of injection).

Following subarachnoid injection, conventional radiography will continue to provide good diagnostic contrast for at least 30 minutes. At about one hour, diagnostic degree of contrast will not usually be available. However, sufficient contrast for CT myelography will be available for several hours. CT myelography following conventional myelography should be deferred for at least four hours to reduce the degree of contrast. Aspiration of iopamidol is unnecessary following intrathecal administration (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ).

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Iopamidol solutions should be used only if clear and within the normal colorless to pale yellow range. Discard any product which shows signs of crystallization or damage to the container-closure system, which includes the glass container, stopper and/or crimp.

It is desirable that solutions of radiopaque diagnostic agents for intrathecal use be at body temperature when injected. Withdrawal of contrast agents from their containers should be accomplished under aseptic conditions with sterile syringes. Spinal puncture must always be performed under sterile conditions.

Patients should be well hydrated prior to and following Iopamidol Injection administration.

Intrathecal administration of corticosteroids with iopamidol is contraindicated. Because of overdosage considerations, immediate repeat myelography in the event of technical failure is contraindicated (see interval recommendation under DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ). Myelography should not be performed in the presence of significant local or systemic infection where bacteremia is likely.

The most frequently reported adverse reactions following intrathecal administration of iopamidol are headache, nausea, vomiting, and musculoskeletal pain. These reactions usually occur 1 to 10 hours after injection, almost all occurring within 24 hours. They are usually mild to moderate in degree, lasting for a few hours and usually disappearing within 24 hours. Rarely, headaches may be severe or persist for days. Headache is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and tends to be more frequent and persistent in patients not optimally hydrated. Backache, neck stiffness, numbness and paresthesias, leg or sciatic-type pain occurred less frequently, often in the form of a transient exacerbation of pre-existing symptomatology. Transient alterations in vital signs may occur and their significance must be assessed on an individual basis.

The following table of incidence of reactions is based on clinical studies with Iopamidol Injection in about 686 patients.

Other adverse effects reported in clinical literature for iopamidol include facial neuralgia, tinnitus, and sweating.

Major motor seizures have been reported in the clinical literature and since market introduction in the United States. Early onset of seizures (less than two hours) is indicative of early substantial intracranial entry. Transitory EEG changes occur and usually take the form of slow wave activity.

While not observed in controlled clinical studies with Iopamidol Injection, the following adverse reactions may occur because they have been reported with Iopamidol Injection and other nonionic water soluble contrast agents: cardiovascular (arrhythmias); pulmonary (apnea); bacterial meningitis, and aseptic meningitis syndrome; allergy or idiosyncrasy (chills, pruritus, nasal congestion, Guillain-Barre syndrome); CNS irritation (psycho-organic syndrome: mild and transitory perceptual aberrations such as depersonalization, anxiety, depression, hyperesthesia, disturbances in speech, sight, or hearing, and disorientation; in addition, hyperreflexia or areflexia, hypertonia or flaccidity, restlessness, tremor, echoacousia, echolalia, asterixis or dysphasia have occurred). Profound mental disturbances have rarely been reported (various forms and degrees of aphasia, mental confusion or disorientation); the onset is usually at 8 to 10 hours and lasts for about 24 hours without aftereffects. However, occasionally they have been manifest as apprehension, agitation or progressive withdrawal to the point of stupor or coma. In a few cases, these have been accompanied by transitory hearing loss or other auditory symptoms and visual disturbances (believed subjective or delusional). Persistent cortical loss of vision in association with convulsions, and ventricular block have been reported. Rarely, persistent though transitory weakness in the leg or ocular muscles has been reported. Peripheral neuropathies have been rare and transitory. They include sensory and/or motor or nerve root disturbances, myelitis, persistent leg muscle pain or weakness, or sixth nerve palsy, or cauda equina syndrome. Muscle cramps, fasciculation or myoclonia, spinal convulsion, paralysis, or spasticity are unusual.

Other drugs should not be admixed with iopamidol (see CONTRAINDICATIONS , and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION : Drug Incompatibilities ).

Iopamidol Injection, USP formulations are stable, aqueous, sterile, and nonpyrogenic solutions for intrathecal administration.

Each mL of Iopamidol Injection, USP, 41% provides 408 mg iopamidol with 1 mg tromethamine and 0.26 mg edetate calcium disodium. The solution contains approximately 0.029 mg (0.001 mEq) sodium and 200 mg organically bound iodine per mL.

Each mL of Iopamidol Injection, USP, 61% provides 612 mg iopamidol with 1 mg tromethamine and 0.39 mg edetate calcium disodium. The solution contains approximately 0.043 mg (0.002 mEq) sodium and 300 mg organically bound iodine per mL.

The pH of Iopamidol Injection, USP contrast media has been adjusted to 6.5-7.5 with hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide. Pertinent physicochemical data are noted below. Iopamidol Injection, USP is hypertonic as compared to plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (approximately 285 and 301 mOsm/kg water, respectively).

Iopamidol is designated chemically as (S)-N,N’-bis[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-ethyl]- 2,4,6-triiodo-5-lactamidoisophthalamide. Structural formula:

MW 777.09

C ₁₇ H ₂₂ I ₃ N ₃ O ₈

CAS-60166-93-0

Organically Bound Iodine: 49%

The pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered iopamidol in normal subjects conform to an open two-compartment model with first order elimination (a rapid alpha phase for drug distribution and a slow beta phase for drug elimination). The elimination serum or plasma half-life is approximately two hours; the half-life is not dose dependent. No significant metabolism, deiodination, or biotransformation occurs.

Iopamidol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); following intrathecal administration, iopamidol appears in plasma within one hour and virtually all of the drug reaches the systemic circulation within 24 hours. Iopamidol is excreted mainly through the kidneys following intrathecal administration, and the drug is essentially undetectable in the plasma 48 hours later. In patients with impaired renal function, the elimination half-life is prolonged dependent upon the degree of impairment. In the absence of renal dysfunction, the cumulative urinary excretion for iopamidol, expressed as a percentage of administered intravenous dose is approximately 35 to 40 percent at 60 minutes, 80 to 90 percent at 8 hours, and 90 percent or more in the 72- to 96-hour period after administration. In normal subjects, approximately 1 percent or less of the administered dose appears in cumulative 72- to 96-hour fecal specimens.

Iopamidol displays little tendency to bind to serum or plasma proteins.

No evidence of in vivo complement activation has been found in normal subjects.

Animal studies indicate that iopamidol does not cross the blood-brain barrier to any significant extent following intravascular administration.

Iopamidol Injection, USP formulations are clear, colorless to pale yellow, stable, aqueous, sterile, and nonpyrogenic solutions for intrathecal administration. It is supplied in the following strengths:

• Iopamidol Injection, USP, 41%

Iopamidol Injection, USP, 41% contains 408 mg iopamidol per mL and is supplied in vials as follows:

• Iopamidol Injection, USP, 61%

Iopamidol Injection, USP, 61% contains 612 mg iopamidol per mL and is supplied in vials as follows:

Discard unused portion.