Medically reviewed by Bandela Mgoqi (B.Pharm, M.Pharm, MPS). Last updated on September 17, 2026.
Dotarem is a diagnostic agent used in adults and children. It belongs to the group of contrast agents used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Dotarem is used to enhance the contrast of the images obtained during MRI examinations. This contrast enhancement improves the examination of some areas of the body. This medicine is for diagnostic use only.
You should NOT be given Dotarem:
Tell your doctor or radiologist before being given Dotarem if the following applies to you:
In all these cases, your doctor or radiologist will assess the benefit-to-risk ratio and decide whether you should be given Dotarem. If you are given Dotarem, your doctor or radiologist will take the precautions necessary and the administration of Dotarem will be carefully monitored.
Your doctor or radiologist may decide to take a blood test to check how well your kidneys are working before making the decision to use Dotarem, especially if you are 65 years of age or older.
Neonates and infants: As kidney function is immature in babies up to 4 weeks of age and infants up to 1 year of age, Dotarem will only be used in these patients after careful consideration by the doctor.
Remove all metallic objects that you wear before the examination. Inform your doctor or radiologist if you have:
This is important as these can result in serious problems, as MRI devices use very strong magnetic fields.
Tell your doctor or radiologist if you are taking, have recently taken or might use any other medicines (this includes complementary or traditional medicines). In particular, please inform your doctor, radiologist or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken medicines for heart and blood pressure disorders such as beta-blocking agents, vasoactive substances, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists.
There are no known interactions between Dotarem and food and drink. However, please check with your doctor or pharmacist if it is required not to eat or drink before the examination.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or radiologist for advice before Dotarem is administered to you.
Pregnancy: Dotarem should not be used during pregnancy unless strictly necessary.
Breastfeeding: Your doctor or radiologist will discuss whether you should continue breastfeeding or interrupt breastfeeding for a period of 24 hours after you receive Dotarem.
No data are available on the effects of Dotarem on the ability to drive. If you feel unwell after the examination, like nausea (feeling sick), you should not drive or use machines.
Dotarem will be administered to you by intravenous injection. During the examination, you will be under the supervision of a doctor or radiologist. A needle will be left in your vein; this will allow the doctor or radiologist to inject you with appropriate emergency medicines if necessary. If you experience an allergic reaction, the administration of Dotarem will be stopped.
Dotarem can be administered by hand or by the means of an automatic injector. In neonates and infants, the product will only be administered by hand. The procedure will be carried out in a hospital, clinic or private practice. The attending staff knows what precautions have to be taken for the examination. They are also aware of the possible complications that can occur.
Your doctor or radiologist will determine the dose you will receive and supervise the injection.
The use of Dotarem is not recommended in patients with severe kidney problems and patients who have recently had, or soon expect to have, a liver transplant. However, if use is required you should only receive one dose of Dotarem during a scan and you should not receive a second injection for at least 7 days.
Neonates, infants, children and adolescents: As kidney function is immature in babies up to 4 weeks of age and infants up to 1 year of age, Dotarem will only be used in these patients after careful consideration by the doctor. Children should only receive one dose of Dotarem during a scan and should not receive a second injection for at least 7 days. Use for angiography is not recommended in children less than 18 years of age.
Elderly: It is not necessary to adjust your dose if you are 65 years of age or older but you may have a blood test to check how well your kidneys are working.
It is highly unlikely that you will be given an overdose. You will be given Dotarem in a medical setting by a trained person. In the real case of overdose, Dotarem can be removed from the body by haemodialysis (blood cleaning).
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine ask your doctor or radiologist.
Dotarem can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for Dotarem are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while being administered Dotarem, please consult your healthcare provider for advice. After the administration, you will be kept under observation for at least half an hour. Most side effects occur immediately or sometimes delayed. Some effects can occur up to seven days after Dotarem injection.
There is a small risk that you may have an allergic reaction to Dotarem. Such reactions can be severe and result in shock (case of allergic reaction that could put your life in danger). The following symptoms may be the first signs of a shock. Tell your doctor, radiologist or healthcare provider immediately if you notice the following:
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:
There have been reports of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (which causes hardening of the skin and may affect also soft tissue and internal organs) most of which were in patients who received Dotarem together with other gadolinium-containing contrast agents. If, during the weeks following the MRI examination, you notice changes in the colour and/or thickness of your skin in any part of your body, inform the radiologist who performed the examination.
If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or X-ray specialist. You can also report side effects to SAHPRA via the Med Safety APP (Medsafety X SAHPRA) and eReporting platform (who-umc-org) found on the SAHPRA website: SAHPRA: https://www.sahpra.org.za/Publications/Index/8. Guerbet South Africa (Pty) Ltd: [email protected]. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of Dotarem.
Store all medicines out of reach of children. Store at or below 30 ºC. Prefilled syringes: Do not freeze. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the vial or the pre-filled syringe and on the carton, after the abbreviation “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. It is unlikely that you will be asked to dispose of any left over Dotarem. If this happens ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
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