Visipaque Side Effects

Generic name: iodixanol

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 25, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Visipaque Side Effects associated with iodixanol. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Visipaque.

Applies to iodixanol: injection solution.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child closely while you are receiving this medicine to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for any unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause heart attack, stroke, and blood clotting problems during angiographic procedures. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child has chest pain that may spread to your arms, jaw, back, or neck, trouble breathing, nausea, unusual sweating, faintness, coughing up blood, numbness or weakness in your arm or leg, or on one side of your body, sudden or severe headache, or problems with vision, speech, or walking after receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after using this medicine.

Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, fever, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may cause hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) in children 3 years of age and younger. Check with your doctor right away if your child has depressed mood, dry skin and hair, feeling cold, hair loss, hoarseness or a husky voice, muscle cramps and stiffness, slowed heartbeat, weight gain, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Tell your doctor right away if you or your child have mild, burning pain, feeling of warmth or coldness, peeling of the skin, redness, or swelling at the injection site.

Make sure your doctor knows if you or your child have had an allergic reaction to any dye or medicine given during a test or procedure.

While using this medicine, you may be exposed to radiation. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Visipaque

Along with its needed effects, iodixanol (the active ingredient contained in Visipaque) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking iodixanol:

Other side effects of Visipaque

Some side effects of iodixanol may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to iodixanol: injectable solution.

General adverse events

Serious reactions as well as fatalities are only seen on very rare occasions. Serious adverse reactions may include acute/chronic renal failure, anaphylactic or anaphylactoid shock, hypersensitivity reaction followed by cardiac reactions (Kounis' syndrome), cardiac or cardio-respiratory arrest and myocardial infarction.^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Very common (10% or more): Vaginal hemorrhage (intrathecal)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hematuria^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Angina pectoris, chest pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arrhythmias, cardiac failure, conduction abnormalities, hypotension, myocardial infarction, flushing, peripheral ischemia.
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypotension
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hypertension, ischemia
• Frequency not reported: Ventricular hypokinesia, myocardial ischemia, arterial spasm, thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, thrombocytopenia, cardiorespiratory arrest, spasm of coronary arteries, shock^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Nonurticarial rash, erythema, pruritus, rash, urticaria
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hematoma, increased sweating
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Angioedema
• Frequency not reported: Severe pustular or bullous skin reactions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, drug eruption, dermatitis allergic, skin exfoliation^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Diarrhea, vomiting, dyspepsia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort
• Frequency not reported: Acute pancreatitis, pancreatitis aggravated, salivary gland enlargement^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Injection site pain^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, migraine, paresthesia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nervousness, dizziness, sensory disturbance, syncope, parosmia, cerebral vascular disorder, convulsions, hypoesthesia, stupor
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Cerebrovascular accident, amnesia
• Frequency not reported: Disturbances in consciousness, coma, motor dysfunction, transient contrast induced encephalopathy (including hallucination), tremor
• Postmarketing reports: Dyskinesia^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Scotoma
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal vision
• Frequency not reported: Transient blindness^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Vertigo
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Edema, fatigue, malaise, tinnitus, feeling hot
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Pain, pyrexia, shivering (chills), administration site reactions including
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Feeling cold, asthenic conditions
• Frequency not reported: Iodism^[Ref]

extravasation

Hypersensitivity

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pharyngeal edema
• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactoid reaction, anaphylactoid shock^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity reactions usually present as respiratory or cutaneous symptoms like dyspnea, rash, erythema, urticaria, pruritus, skin reaction, angioneurotic edema, hypotension, fever, laryngeal edema, bronchospasm or pulmonary edema. They may appear either immediately after the injection or up to a few days later.

Hypersensitivity reactions may occur irrespectively of the dose and mode of administration and mild symptoms may represent the first signs of a serious anaphylactoid reaction/shock.^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Agitation, anxiety, insomnia, confusion^[Ref]

Renal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal renal function, acute renal failure^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Asthma, bronchitis, dyspnea, pulmonary edema, rhinitis
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Cough
• Frequency not reported: Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, respiratory arrest, respiratory failure
• Postmarketing reports: Pulmonary embolism, respiratory depression^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Back pain
• Frequency not reported: Arthralgia
• Postmarketing reports: Polymyalgia rheumatica^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Postmarketing reports: Hemorrhage^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Postmarketing reports: Hypoglycemia^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Visipaque side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer