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| Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
| Contents of this page: | |
| This information applies to the following medicines when used for diagnosis: | |||
| 1. | Ammonia N 13 (a-MOE-nya) | ||
| 2. | Cyanocobalamin Co 57 (sye-an-oh-koe-BAL-a-min) | ||
| 3. | Ferrous Citrate Fe 59 (FER-us SI-trate) | ||
| 4. | Fludeoxyglucose F 18 (flu-dee-ox-ee-GLOO-kose) | ||
| 5. | Gallium Citrate Ga 67 (GAL-ee-um) | ||
| 6. | Indium In 111 Oxyquinoline (IN-dee-um ox-i-KWIN-oh-leen) | ||
| 7. | Indium In 111 Pentetate (PEN-te-tate) | ||
| 8. | Indium In 111 Pentetreotide (pen-te-TREE-oh-tide) | ||
| 9. | Indium In 111 Satumomab Pendetide (sa-TYOO-mo-mab) | ||
| 10. | Iobenguane, Radioiodinated (eye-oh-BEN-gwane) | ||
| 11. | Iodohippurate Sodium I 123 (eye-oh-doe-HIP-yoor-ate SOE-dee-um) | ||
| 12. | Iodohippurate Sodium I 131 (eye-oh-doe-HIP-yoor-ate SOE-dee-um) | ||
| 13. | IofetamineI 123 (eye-oh-FET-a-meen) | ||
| 14. | Iothalamate Sodium I 125 (eye-oh-thal-A-mate) | ||
| 15. | Krypton Kr 81m (KRIP-tonn) | ||
| 16. | Methionine C 11 (me-THYE-oh-neen) | ||
| 17. | RadioiodinatedAlbumin (ray-dee-oh-EYE-oh-din-nay-tedal-BYOO-min) | ||
| 18. | Rubidium Rb 82 (roo-BID-ee-um) | ||
| 19. | SodiumChromate Cr 51 (KROE-mate) | ||
| 20. | Sodium Fluoride F 18 (FLOR-ide)*+ | ||
| 21. | Sodium Iodide I 123 (EYE-oh-dyed) | ||
| 22. | SodiumIodide I 131 (EYE-oh-dyed) | ||
| 23. | Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m (per-TEK-ne-tate) | ||
| 24. | Technetium Tc 99m Albumin (tek-NEE-see-um al-BYOO-min) | ||
| 25. | Technetium Tc 99m Albumin Aggregated | ||
| 26. | Technetium Tc 99m Albumin Colloid | ||
| 27. | Technetium Tc 99m Arcitumomab | ||
| 28. | TechnetiumTc 99m Bicisate (bye-SIS-ate) | ||
| 29. | Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin (DYE-so-fen-in) | ||
| 30. | TechnetiumTc 99m Exametazime (ex-a-MET-a-zeem) | ||
| 31. | Technetium Tc 99m Gluceptate (gloo-SEP-tate) | ||
| 32. | TechnetiumTc 99m Lidofenin (lye-doe-FEN-in) | ||
| 33. | Technetium Tc 99m Mebrofenin (ME-bro-fen-in) | ||
| 34. | TechnetiumTc 99m Medronate (ME-droe-nate) | ||
| 35. | Technetium Tc 99m Mertiatide (meer-TYE-a-tide) | ||
| 36. | Technetium Tc 99m Nofetumomab Merpentan+ | ||
| 37. | Technetium Tc 99m Oxidronate (OX-i-dron-ate) | ||
| 38. | Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate (PEN-te-tate) | ||
| 39. | TechnetiumTc 99m Pyrophosphate (peer-oh-FOS-fate) | ||
| 40. | Technetium Tc 99m (Pyro- and trimeta-) Phosphates | ||
| 41. | Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi (SES-ta-mi-bi) | ||
| 42. | TechnetiumTc 99m Succimer (SUX-sim-mer) | ||
| 43. | Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid | ||
| 44. | Technetium Tc 99m Teboroxime (te-boe-ROX-eem) | ||
| 45. | Technetium Tc 99m Tetrofosmin (te-troe-FOS-min)+ | ||
| 46. | Thallous Chloride Tl 201 (THA-luss KLOR-ide) | ||
| 47. | Xenon Xe 127 (ZEE-non) | ||
| 48. | XenonXe 133 | ||
* Not commercially available in the U.S.
| + Not commercially available in Canada
| | ||
Radiopharmaceuticals (ray-dee-oh-far-ma-SOO-ti-kals) are agents used to diagnose certain medical problems or treat certain diseases. They may be given to the patient in several different ways. For example, they may be given by mouth, given by injection, or placed into the eye or into the bladder.
These radiopharmaceuticals are used in the diagnosis of:
Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive agents. However, when small amounts are used, the radiation your body receives from them is very low and is considered safe. When larger amounts of these agents are given to treat disease, there may be different effects on the body.
When radiopharmaceuticals are used to help diagnose medical problems, only small amounts are given to the patient. The radiopharmaceutical then passes through, or is taken up by, an organ of the body (which organ depends on what radiopharmaceutical is used and how it has been given). Then the radioactivity is detected, and pictures are produced, by special imaging equipment. These pictures allow the nuclear medicine doctor to study how the organ is working and to detect cancer or tumors that may be present in the organ.
Some radiopharmaceuticals are used in larger amounts to treat certain kinds of cancer and other diseases. In those cases, the radioactive agent is taken up in the cancerous area and destroys the affected tissue. The information that follows applies only to radiopharmaceuticals when used in small amounts to diagnose medical problems .
The dosages of radiopharmaceuticals that are used to diagnose medical problems will be different for different patients and depend on the type of test. The amount of radioactivity of a radiopharmaceutical is expressed in units called becquerels or curies. Radiopharmaceutical dosages given may be as small as 0.185 megabecquerels (5 microcuries) or as high as 1295 megabecquerels (35 millicuries). The radiation received from these dosages may be about the same as, or even less than, the radiation received from an x-ray study of the same organ.
Radiopharmaceuticals are to be given only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor with specialized training in nuclear medicine.
In deciding to use a diagnostic test, any risks of the test must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. Also, test results may be affected by other things. For radiopharmaceuticals, the following should be considered:
Allergies--If you will be receiving albumin in the form of radioiodinated albumin, technetium Tc 99m albumin aggregated, technetium Tc 99m albumin colloid, or technetium Tc 99m albumin for your test, tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to products containing human serum albumin. Also tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other substance, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy--Radiopharmaceuticals usually are not recommended for use during pregnancy. This is to avoid exposing the fetus to radiation. Some radiopharmaceuticals may be used for diagnostic tests in pregnant women, but it is necessary to inform your doctor if you are pregnant so the doctor may reduce the radiation dose to the baby. This is especially important with radiopharmaceuticals that contain radioactive iodine, which can go to the baby's thyroid gland and, in high enough amounts, may cause thyroid damage. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.
Breast-feeding--Some radiopharmaceuticals pass into the breast milk and may expose the baby to radiation. If you must receive a radiopharmaceutical, it may be necessary for you to stop breast-feeding for some time after receiving it. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.
Children--For most radiopharmaceuticals, the amount of radiation used for a diagnostic test is very low and considered safe. However, be sure you have discussed with your doctor the benefit versus the risk of exposing your child to radiation.
Older adults--Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. Although there is no specific information comparing use of most radiopharmaceuticals in the elderly with use in other age groups, problems would not be expected to occur. However, it is a good idea to check with your doctor if you notice any unusual effects after receiving a radiopharmaceutical.
Other medicines--Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are going to receive a radiopharmaceutical, it is especially important that your doctor know if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
In addition, if you will be receiving radioactive iodine (sodium iodide I 123, sodium iodide I 131) or sodium pertechnetate Tc 99m for a thyroid test, it is especially important that your doctor know if you have been taking iodine through other medicine or foods. For example, the results of your test may be affected if:
Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect
the use of radiopharmaceuticals. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have
any other medical problems. The nuclear medicine doctor may
have special instructions for you in preparation for your test. For example,
before some tests you must fast for several hours, or the results of the test
may be affected. For other tests you should drink plenty of liquids. If you
do not understand the instructions you receive or if you have not received
any instructions, check with the nuclear medicine doctor in advance. There are usually no special precautions to observe for radiopharmaceuticals
when they are used in small amounts for diagnosis. Some radiopharmaceuticals may accumulate in your bladder. Therefore, to
increase the flow of urine and lessen the amount of radiation to your bladder,
your doctor may instruct you to drink plenty of liquids and urinate often
after certain tests. For patients receiving
radioactive iodine (iodohippurate
sodium I 123, iodohippurate sodium I 131, iofetamine I 123, iothalamate I
125, radioiodinated albumin, or radioiodinated iobenguane)
:
Preparation for This Test
Precautions After Having This Test
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. When radiopharmaceuticals are used in very small doses to study an organ of the body, side effects are rare and usually involve an allergic reaction. These effects may occur almost immediately or a few minutes after the radiopharmaceutical is given. It may be helpful to note the time when you first notice any side effect. Your doctor, nuclear medicine physician and/or technologist, or nurse will be prepared to give you immediate medical attention if needed.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Chills; difficulty breathing; drowsiness (severe); fainting; fast heartbeat; fever; flushing or redness of skin; headache (severe); nausea or vomiting; skin rash, hives, or itching; stomach pain; swelling of throat, hands, or feet
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, note the time when they start and check with your doctor.
Revised: 08/18/98
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