Gadopentetate Dimeglumine
Pronunciation: Not established in the sources reviewed.
- Generic name
- gadopentetate dimeglumine
- Brand names
- Magnevist
- Drug class
- Gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA)
- Route
- Intravenous injection
Availability and supply rules vary by country
Trade names by country: Canada
Australia: · Full directory
What gadopentetate dimeglumine is and how it works
Gadopentetate dimeglumine is a gadolinium-based contrast agent used intravenously for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in the central nervous system, head/neck, and body in patients aged 2 years and older. (1)
It is administered by trained healthcare personnel via IV injection; it is not self-administered. The reviewed source states that the Magnevist brand is discontinued in the United States.
Mechanism of action: how gadopentetate dimeglumine works
Gadopentetate dimeglumine is a gadolinium-based contrast agent. The detailed mechanism of action was not established in the source reviewed for this page and is not stated here. (1)
What gadopentetate dimeglumine is used for
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast
Used to visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in the central nervous system, head and neck, and body in patients aged 2 years and older. (1)
Before taking gadopentetate dimeglumine
Do not take / not appropriate for
- Gadopentetate dimeglumine carries a boxed warning: avoid use in chronic, severe kidney disease (GFR <30 mL/min/1.73m²) or acute kidney injury unless the diagnostic information is essential and unavailable with non-contrast MRI, per the source reviewed. Your clinician will assess whether this applies to you. (all uses) (1)
- A history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to gadopentetate dimeglumine is a contraindication per the source reviewed; your clinician will assess whether this applies to you. (all uses) (1)
Tell your clinician about
- Any history of kidney disease, including chronic kidney disease or acute kidney injury.
- Any previous severe hypersensitivity reaction to gadopentetate dimeglumine.
- If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
How to take gadopentetate dimeglumine
- Gadopentetate dimeglumine is given as an intravenous injection by trained healthcare personnel, at a standard dose of 0.2 mL/kg (0.1 mmol/kg), at a rate not to exceed 10 mL per 15 seconds, per the source reviewed.
- This medicine is not self-administered.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1)
Missed dose
This medicine is administered by trained healthcare personnel as part of a scheduled imaging procedure; it is not self-administered, so a missed-dose concept does not apply.
Overdose
This medicine is dosed and given by trained healthcare personnel; it is not self-administered. Specific overdose-management procedures were not established in the source reviewed for this page; unresolved.
Side effects
The most common adverse effects (≥1%) reported in clinical trials include headache (4.8%), nausea (2.7%), injection-site coldness (2.3%), and dizziness (1%). After administration of any gadolinium-based contrast agent, gadolinium is retained for months or years in the brain, bone, and other organs.
Headache
What to notice: Headache, as reported in clinical trials (4.8%).
What to do: Tell your healthcare team. (1)
Nausea
What to notice: Nausea, as reported in clinical trials (2.7%).
What to do: Tell your healthcare team. (1)
Injection-site coldness
What to notice: Coldness at the injection site, as reported in clinical trials (2.3%).
What to do: Tell your healthcare team. (1)
Dizziness
What to notice: Dizziness, as reported in clinical trials (1%).
What to do: Tell your healthcare team. (1)
Hypersensitivity reactions
What to notice: Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions that rarely result in death, per the source reviewed; specific symptom presentation was not detailed there.
What to do: Seek emergency medical attention promptly. (1)
Acute kidney injury
What to notice: May occur within 48 hours of injection, per the source reviewed; specific symptom presentation was not detailed there.
What to do: Seek medical attention promptly. (1)
Serious warnings
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) — warning
Symptoms: Specific symptom presentation was not detailed in the source reviewed.
Action: Seek medical attention promptly if you feel unwell after the procedure. (1)
Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions — emergency
Symptoms: Rarely result in death, per the source reviewed; specific symptom presentation was not detailed there.
Action: Seek emergency medical attention promptly. (1)
Acute kidney injury — warning
Symptoms: May occur within 48 hours of injection, per the source reviewed; specific symptom presentation was not detailed there.
Action: Seek medical attention promptly. (1)
Interactions
| Medicine or test | Effect | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Other medicines | No drug-drug interaction data was found in the source reviewed for this page; unresolved rather than confirmed absent. | Inform your healthcare provider about all medicines you are taking. (1) |
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Children and adolescents
Approved for use in patients aged 2 years and older, at the same standard dose of 0.2 mL/kg (0.1 mmol/kg), per the source reviewed. (1)
Pregnancy
Use only if imaging is essential and cannot be delayed, per the source reviewed. (1)
Breastfeeding
Limited transfer into breast milk occurs, estimated at 0.001-0.04% of the maternal dose, per the source reviewed. (1)
Renal impairment
Contraindicated in chronic, severe kidney disease (GFR <30 mL/min/1.73m²) or acute kidney injury unless the diagnostic information is essential and unavailable with non-contrast MRI. No specific dose-adjustment table for mild-to-moderate impairment was found in the source reviewed; unresolved. (1)
Monitoring
Before starting
- A specific pre-procedure monitoring checklist was not established in the source reviewed for this page; unresolved.
During treatment
- A specific during-procedure monitoring protocol was not established in the source reviewed for this page; unresolved.
Storage
This medicine is administered by trained healthcare personnel; patients do not self-store it. Specific facility storage/handling instructions were not established in the source reviewed for this page; unresolved.
Professional information
Clinician-facing context only. Use the current local label and institutional protocols for contrast administration.
United States (FDA-sourced label, via Drugs.com)
Indication: MRI contrast enhancement per approved indications
Dose summary: Standard dose: 0.2 mL/kg (0.1 mmol/kg) as a single intravenous injection, at a rate not to exceed 10 mL per 15 seconds, per the source reviewed.
Renal context: Contraindicated (per boxed warning) in chronic, severe kidney disease (GFR <30 mL/min/1.73m²) or acute kidney injury unless diagnostic information is essential and unavailable with non-contrast MRI. No specific dose-adjustment table for mild-to-moderate impairment, and no hemodialysis-timing guidance, were found in the source reviewed; unresolved. (1)
Hepatic guidance
No hepatic-impairment guidance was found in the source reviewed; unresolved.
Overdose note
Specific overdose-management procedures were not established in the source reviewed for this page; unresolved. (1)
Frequently asked questions
What is Magnevist used for?
It is a gadolinium-based contrast agent used during MRI to help visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in the central nervous system, head/neck, and body in patients aged 2 years and older. (1)
Is gadolinium from contrast agents retained in the body?
Yes. Gadolinium is retained for months or years in the brain, bone, and other organs after administration of any gadolinium-based contrast agent, per the source reviewed. (1)
Is Magnevist still available in the United States?
The source reviewed states that the Magnevist brand is discontinued in the United States. No further country-specific availability information was checked in this research pass. (1)
What is the mechanism of action of gadopentetate dimeglumine?
Gadopentetate dimeglumine is a gadolinium-based contrast agent. The detailed mechanism of action was not established in the source reviewed for this page and is not stated here. (1)
What is the generic name of Gadopentetate Dimeglumine?
The generic name is gadopentetate dimeglumine. It is sold under brand names including Magnevist. (1)
What class of drug is gadopentetate dimeglumine?
Gadopentetate Dimeglumine is classed as: Gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA). (1)
References
- Magnevist (gadopentetate dimeglumine) prescribing informationDrugs.com (from FDA-approved labeling) · United States · accessed 2026-08-05 · source 1
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient gadopentetate dimeglumine names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
Canada
- MAGNEVIST