Fludeoxyglucose f 18 (intravenous route)
Available brands
Gludef, Metatrace FDG
About this medication
Fludeoxyglucose F 18 injection is used to help diagnose cancer, heart disease, and epilepsy. It is used in a procedure called a positron emission tomography (PET) scan to help your doctor see parts of the body, such as the heart or brain. Fludeoxyglucose F 18 belongs to the group of medicines called radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive agents). This medicine will be used only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of fludeoxyglucose F 18 injection in children with epilepsy. However, safety and efficacy of fludeoxyglucose F 18 injection have not been established in children with cancer or heart disease. No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of fludeoxyglucose F 18 injection in geriatric patients. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. 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. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
A doctor or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins just before you have a PET scan. Your doctor will have you or your child drink water or other fluids during the 4 hours before you have the PET scan. Your doctor will also give you instructions about eating food before the test. You or your child will need to urinate right away and as often as possible for at least one hour after the PET scan.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.