Summary of Use during Lactation

Gadodiamide releases more free gadolinium than some other gadolinium-containing contrast agents. Some European guidelines recommend a 24-hour interruption of breastfeeding after a dose, but guidelines developed by several North American professional organizations state that breastfeeding need not be disrupted after a nursing mother receives a gadolinium-containing contrast medium.[1-4] Other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Drug Levels

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

A mother with neuromyelitis optica was nursing her 38-day-old male infant. Each breastfeeding session was about 15 minutes every 2 hours. She was given gadodiamide (dose not specified) before an MRI scan. She withheld breastfeeding for 6 to 8 hours after the injection. Her infant experienced no immediate adverse effects.[5]

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Alternate Drugs to Consider

Gadobenate, Gadobutrol, Gadopentetate, Gadoteridol, Gadoterate

References

1.

Copel J, El-Sayed Y, Heine RP, et al. Committee Opinion No. 723: Guidelines for diagnostic imaging during pregnancy and lactation. Obstet Gynecol 2017;130:e210-e6. [PubMed: 28937575]

2.

European Society of Urogenital Radiology. ESUR guidelines on contrast media. 2018;Version 10.0. http://www​.esur-cm.org/index.php/en/

3.

American College of Radiology Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media. Administration of contrast media to breast-feeding mothers. In, ACR manual on contrast media. 2023;Version 2023:120-1. https://www​.acr.org/Clinical-Resources​/Contrast-Manual

4.

Bookwalter CA, McDonald RJ, Packard AT, et al. Contrast media in pregnant and lactating patients, from the AJR special series on contrast media. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2024. [PubMed: 39046138]

5.

Acar S, Keskin-Arslan E, Erol-Coskun H, et al. Gadodiamide use during breastfeeding. Reprod Toxicol 2018;80:59-60. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2018.07.071 [CrossRef]

Substance Name

Gadodiamide

CAS Registry Number

122795-43-1

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Milk, Human

Contrast Media

Diagnostic Agents