Iohexol: Brands, Price & Uses in Bangladesh

Iohexol is a non-ionic, low-osmolar iodinated contrast medium used to enhance visualization of internal structures during radiographic (X-ray/CT) imaging. It is an FDA-approved contrast agent with established uses across several imaging routes:

• Intrathecal use: myelography (lumbar, thoracic, cervical) and CT cisternography.
• Intravascular use: contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the head and body, excretory urography, cardiac ventriculography, coronary arteriography, and aortography/peripheral arteriography.
• Body cavity use: arthrography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and hysterosalpingography.
• Oral/gastrointestinal use: opacification of the GI tract when a water-soluble agent is preferred over barium.

Iohexol is administered only by, or under the direct supervision of, a qualified physician or radiologist in a healthcare facility; it is not a self-administered outpatient medicine.

Dosage and concentration of Iohexol depend on the imaging procedure, the patient's age, body weight, and renal function, and must be determined by the supervising physician/radiologist. Representative ranges from prescribing information are summarized below; local product labeling should always be followed.

Iohexol must be administered by, or under the supervision of, a physician trained in the procedure and with resuscitation equipment and trained personnel immediately available, because of the risk of serious hypersensitivity reactions.

Adverse effects of Iohexol vary by route of administration.

• Intravascular (IV/intra-arterial) use: injection site pain or warmth, nausea, vomiting, flushing, headache, altered taste, and less commonly arrhythmias or transient visual disturbances.
• Intrathecal use (myelography): headache (common, up to ~18%), back or neck pain, nausea, and rarely seizures or aseptic meningitis.
• Oral/rectal use: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort.
• Intra-articular use: injection site pain and joint swelling.
• Serious but less common reactions: anaphylactoid/hypersensitivity reactions (ranging from mild urticaria to life-threatening bronchospasm, laryngeal edema, or anaphylactic shock), contrast-induced acute kidney injury, and cardiovascular events (arrhythmia, hypotension, rarely cardiac arrest).

Patients should seek immediate medical attention for difficulty breathing, swelling of the face/throat, severe rash, or chest pain after Iohexol administration.