Iodixanol, sold under the brand name Visipaque, is an iodine-containing non-ionic radiocontrast agent. It is available as a

generic medication A generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by chemical patents. Generic drugs are allowed for sale after the patents on the original drugs expire. Because the active ch ...

Medical uses

The radio

contrast agent A contrast agent (or contrast medium) is a substance used to increase the contrast of structures or fluids within the body in medical imaging. Contrast agents absorb or alter external electromagnetism or ultrasound, which is different from radiop ...

is given intravenously for computed tomography (CT) imaging of the head, body, excretory urography and venography. The radiocontrast agent is also given intra-arterially for

angiography Angiography or arteriography is a medical imaging technique used to visualize the inside, or lumen, of blood vessels and organs of the body, with particular interest in the arteries, veins, and the heart chambers. Modern angiography is perfo ...

imaging.

Adverse effects

About 30% of those received intravenous iodixanol injection has warmth, pain, or discomfort at the site of the injection. Other adverse effects include: taste perversion (3.5%), nausea (2.8%), and headache (2.5%).

Society and culture

Available forms

The contrast can either be given intra-arterialy or intravenously.

Veterinary uses

Iodixanol is also the active ingredient in a number of 'cushion' products used during the centrifugation of stallion semen. It is layered underneath the extended stallion semen allowing for a higher g force to be used with less sperm damage and better recovery rates. Post centrifugation the supernatant above and the cushion below is removed, leaving a concentrated sperm pellet in the conical tube.

References

External links

*https://web.archive.org/web/20160825063320/http://www.cosmobiousa.com/axis-shield-density-gradient-optiprep.html *http://www3.gehealthcare.com/en/products/categories/contrast_media/visipaque *https://web.archive.org/web/20110927141156/http://www.gehealthcare.com/caen/md/docs/visipaquepieng.pdf * {{Contrast media Iodobenzene derivatives Radiocontrast agents Benzamides Acetanilides