Gadodiamide
Pronunciation: Not established in the sources reviewed.
- Generic name
- gadodiamide
- Brand names
- Omniscan
- Drug class
- Gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA)
- Form
- Intravenous MRI contrast agent; the exact formulation details were not established in the sources reviewed
- Route
- Intravenous injection
- Legal status
- Not established in the sources reviewed
Availability and supply rules vary by country
Trade names by country: United States · Canada
Australia: · Full directory
What gadodiamide is and how it works
Gadodiamide is a gadolinium-based contrast agent given intravenously for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is used to help visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in the brain, spine, and body cavities, including thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic regions. (1)
Gadodiamide is administered by trained healthcare personnel as part of an MRI examination. Important safety considerations include kidney function, previous hypersensitivity reactions, and the risk of gadolinium retention.
Mechanism of action: how gadodiamide works
Gadodiamide is a gadolinium-based contrast agent used intravenously for MRI. Further pharmacology details were not established in the sources reviewed. (1)
What gadodiamide is used for
Central nervous system imaging
Gadodiamide is indicated for MRI to visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in the brain and spine. (1)
Body imaging
Gadodiamide is indicated for MRI to visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in body cavities, including thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic regions. (1)
Before taking gadodiamide
Do not take / not appropriate for
- Gadodiamide is contraindicated in people with chronic severe kidney disease, defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) below 30 mL/min/1.73 m², or acute kidney injury. (all uses) (1)
- Gadodiamide is contraindicated in people with a prior hypersensitivity reaction to the drug. (all uses) (1)
Tell your clinician about
- Any kidney disease, reduced kidney function, or acute kidney injury.
- Any previous reaction to gadodiamide or another contrast agent.
- Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
- Any previous gadolinium-based contrast examinations, particularly if repeated or higher-than-recommended doses may have been received.
How to take gadodiamide
- Gadodiamide is administered intravenously by trained healthcare personnel during an MRI examination.
- The imaging team determines whether gadodiamide is appropriate, including assessment of kidney-related contraindications and hypersensitivity history.
- For adult and pediatric patients aged 2 to 16 years, the labeled CNS imaging dose is 0.2 mL/kg (0.1 mmol/kg).
- For body imaging, the labeled dose is 0.1 mmol/kg for kidney imaging and 0.2 mmol/kg for other body regions.
- Repeated or higher-than-recommended GBCA doses may increase the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, particularly when kidney function is impaired.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician.
Missed dose
Not applicable. Gadodiamide is given by trained healthcare personnel for an MRI examination and does not have a self-managed missed-dose schedule.
Overdose
Specific overdose-management instructions were not established in the sources reviewed. Higher-than-recommended GBCA doses may increase nephrogenic systemic fibrosis risk, especially in people with impaired kidney function. (1)
Side effects
The most frequent adverse effects reported in clinical trials, each occurring in up to 3% of people, were nausea, headache, and dizziness. Serious reactions, including hypersensitivity reactions and kidney-related complications, can occur.
Nausea
What to notice: Feeling sick or unsettled in the stomach after contrast administration.
What to do: Tell the imaging or clinical team if symptoms are severe or concerning. (1)
Headache
What to notice: Head pain occurring after contrast administration.
What to do: Tell the imaging or clinical team if symptoms are severe or concerning. (1)
Dizziness
What to notice: Feeling light-headed or unsteady after contrast administration.
What to do: Tell the imaging or clinical team if symptoms are severe or concerning. (1)
Possible acute kidney injury or renal failure
What to notice: The sources reviewed report that acute renal failure has occurred in people with preexisting renal insufficiency; specific symptoms and monitoring instructions were not established.
What to do: Seek prompt medical assessment if a clinician raises concern about kidney function after gadodiamide exposure. (1)
Serious warnings
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis — serious
Symptoms: Specific symptoms were not established in the sources reviewed.
Action: The imaging clinician must assess kidney function and avoid gadodiamide in chronic severe kidney disease or acute kidney injury. Repeated or higher-than-recommended GBCA doses may increase risk. (1)
Hypersensitivity or anaphylactoid reaction — emergency
Symptoms: Hypersensitivity reactions, including fatal anaphylactoid reactions, are possible. Specific symptom lists were not established in the sources reviewed.
Action: Alert healthcare personnel immediately about any suspected reaction during or after administration; emergency assessment is required for a severe reaction. (1)
Gadolinium retention — serious
Symptoms: Gadolinium may be retained for months or years in several organs, including the brain and bone. Specific patient symptoms associated with retention were not established in the sources reviewed.
Action: The clinician considering MRI contrast should weigh the need for imaging and relevant exposure history. (1)
Interactions
| Medicine or test | Effect | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Drug-drug interactions | No drug-drug interaction data were identified in the source reviewed. | Provide the imaging clinician and pharmacist with a complete medicine list so they can assess relevant information from current local product resources. (1) |
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Children and adolescents
Labeled dosing information in the sources reviewed applies to pediatric patients aged 2 to 16 years. Information for younger children was not established in the sources reviewed. (1)
Pregnancy
Gadodiamide should be used during pregnancy only if imaging is essential and cannot be delayed. (1)
Breastfeeding
Minimal gadolinium appears in breast milk. The benefits of breastfeeding should be weighed against potential risks. (1)
Kidney impairment
Gadodiamide is contraindicated in chronic severe kidney disease with GFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m² and in acute kidney injury. No renal-impairment dose-adjustment table beyond this contraindication was established in the sources reviewed. (1)
Monitoring
Before starting
- Confirm the MRI indication and whether contrast enhancement is required.
- Assess for chronic severe kidney disease, acute kidney injury, and preexisting renal insufficiency.
- Assess any prior hypersensitivity reaction to gadodiamide.
- Review previous GBCA exposure, as repeated or higher-than-recommended doses may increase nephrogenic systemic fibrosis risk.
During treatment
- Administration is performed by trained healthcare personnel via intravenous injection.
- Be prepared to recognise and manage hypersensitivity reactions, including potentially fatal anaphylactoid reactions.
- No specific post-administration kidney-monitoring protocol or hemodialysis-timing guidance was established in the sources reviewed.
Storage
Not applicable for patients. Gadodiamide is administered by trained healthcare personnel for MRI, and no home-storage instructions apply.
Professional information
Clinician-facing context only. Use the current local product information, institutional MRI contrast protocol, and appropriate renal-function and hypersensitivity assessment.
United States labeling source reviewed
Indication: CNS and body MRI in adults and pediatric patients aged 2 to 16 years
Dose summary: For CNS imaging: 0.2 mL/kg (0.1 mmol/kg). For body imaging: 0.1 mmol/kg for kidney imaging and 0.2 mmol/kg for other body regions.
Renal context: Contraindicated in chronic severe kidney disease with GFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m² and in acute kidney injury. No specific renal-impairment dose-adjustment table or hemodialysis-timing guidance was identified in the sources reviewed. (1)
Hepatic guidance
No specific hepatic-impairment guidance was identified in the sources reviewed.
Overdose note
No specific overdose-management guidance was identified in the sources reviewed. Higher-than-recommended GBCA doses may increase nephrogenic systemic fibrosis risk, particularly with impaired kidney function. (1)
Frequently asked questions
Can I administer gadodiamide myself at home?
No. Gadodiamide is given intravenously by trained healthcare personnel for an MRI examination. (1)
Why is kidney function important before gadodiamide is used?
Gadolinium-based contrast agents increase the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in people with impaired kidney function. Gadodiamide is contraindicated in chronic severe kidney disease with GFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m² and in acute kidney injury. (1)
Can gadolinium remain in the body after an MRI?
Yes. Gadolinium can be retained for months or years in several organs, including the brain and bone, after administration of any gadolinium-based contrast agent. (1)
What is the mechanism of action of gadodiamide?
Gadodiamide is a gadolinium-based contrast agent used intravenously for MRI. Further pharmacology details were not established in the sources reviewed. (1)
What is the generic name of Gadodiamide?
The generic name is gadodiamide. It is sold under brand names including Omniscan. (1)
What class of drug is gadodiamide?
Gadodiamide is classed as: Gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA). (1)
References
- Omniscan (gadodiamide) prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration (via Drugs.com) · United States · accessed 2026-08-05 · source 1
- OMNISCAN (GADODIAMIDE) INJECTION [GE HEALTHCARE INC.] — US prescribing information (DailyMed SPL)U.S. National Library of Medicine (DailyMed) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 2
- OMNISCAN — FDA approval record (Drugs@FDA NDA020123)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 3
- gadodiamide — RxNorm normalized drug concept (RXCUI 41144)U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 4
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient gadodiamide names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
United States
- OMNISCAN287 mg/mL · ge healthcare inc.
Canada
- OMNISCAN