Indications
Gadoteric Acid is given into a vein for use with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain (intracranial), the spine and the tissues around them. It can be used in adults and in children aged 2 years and older. Its purpose is to help detect and show areas where the blood brain barrier (BBB) is disrupted and/or where the blood vessels are abnormal.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
Gadoterate is a paramagnetic molecule, which means it develops a magnetic moment when it sits in a magnetic field. That magnetic moment speeds up the relaxation rates of water protons close to it, so the signal intensity (the brightness) of the tissues goes up. In a magnetic field, gadoterate also shortens the T1 and T2 relaxation times in the target tissues.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Gadoteric Acid is Pregnancy Category C. No adequate and well-controlled studies have been done in pregnant women. There is limited published human data on other GBCAs given during pregnancy, and it showed no adverse effects in the exposed newborns. In animal studies, no effects on embryo fetal development were seen at doses up to 10 mmol/kg/day in rats and 3 mmol/kg/day in rabbits. Based on body surface area, these doses were 16 times the recommended human dose in rats and 10 times in rabbits. The medicine should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Lactation: It is not known whether Gadoteric Acid is excreted in human milk. Limited case reports on GBCAs in nursing mothers indicate that 0.01 to 0.04% of the mother's gadolinium dose passes into breast milk. Many drugs are excreted in human milk, so use caution when giving it to a nursing woman. Nonclinical data show that gadoterate meglumine is excreted into breast milk in very small amounts (0.1% of the dose given intravenously), and absorption through the gastrointestinal tract is poor.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage Reference
⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.