Patient Information Leaflet

GASTROGRAFIN®

This leaflet gives you some information about Gastrografin. If you have any problems or are not sure about anything, ask the X-ray department staff.

Your doctor has arranged for you to have an X-ray examination of your gullet, stomach or intestines (gastrointestinal tract).

X-rays, like radio waves, can pass through objects and can be focused to make a picture. When you have an X-ray, the beam of rays goes through your body where it is absorbed to differing degrees by different tissues such as bones, muscles and organs. When the rays come out on the other side they make a pattern of light and shade on a film. Gastrografin helps to make this pattern clearer. The film is then examined by a specialist who will make a diagnosis.

The name of this diagnostic aid is: Gastrografin

What does your medicine contain?

1ml Gastrografin contains 100mg sodium amidotrizoate and 660mg meglumine amidotrizoate in a water-based solution for oral (by mouth) or rectal (back passage) use.

It also contains the inactive ingredients:

Disodium edetate
Saccharin sodium
Anise oil
Polysorbate 80
Purified water

Gastrografin is available in packs of 10 x 100ml brown glass bottles.

Gastrografin is a contrast medium (a dye) which contains iodine. It is used to show clearly on X-rays the area your doctor wants to investigate.

Uses

To create an artificial contrast and clearly show on X-rays the area your doctor wants to investigate. This will be your gullet, stomach or intestines (gastrointestinal tract).

Gastrografin may also be used to treat an intestinal obstruction in newborn babies (meconium ileus).

What you should know before taking Gastrografin.

You must tell the X-ray department staff if you suffer from any type of thyroid disease.

If Gastrografin gets into your lungs by accident it may cause fluid to collect in your lungs.

Side effects are likely to be rare since very little Gastrografin is absorbed into your body.

Gastrografin must not be given by injection into the blood vessels.

You should tell the X-ray department staff about any other medicine you are taking, in particular beta-blockers (drugs used to treat heart or blood pressure problems) or if you have been treated with a drug called interleukin.

If you are going to have an iodine test for thyroid disease, Gastrografin may affect the result for up to 6 weeks or more after taking it. Always tell your doctor or the laboratory staff that you have taken Gastrografin recently.

If you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, tell the X-ray department staff.

How to take Gastrografin

The dose of Gastrografin and how it will be given will depend on the type of investigation.

 

Gastrografin is either drunk as a solution or given as an enema. The dose range is usually from 2ml to 125ml Gastrografin. This may be diluted depending on the type of investigation.

Before the examination the X-ray department staff should make sure that you have had enough to drink and that any imbalances in your body salts are corrected.

Side effects

Rarely nausea and vomiting may occur.

Some people may experience rash-like skin reactions.

It is possible that allergic-type reactions and shock may occur.

Gastrografin may occasionally cause diarrhoea. If you currently have enteritis or colitis (inflammation of the intestine or bowel), this may temporarily get worse.

You should tell the X-ray department staff about any changes in your health or general sense of well-being that you notice during the examination or for the next day or so.

Expiry date

The expiry date is printed on the label. The contrast medium should not be used after this date.

Storage

Protect from light and X-rays. Store below 25°C.