What Is Lipiodol?
Lipiodol (ethiodized oil) Injection is a radio-opaque contrast agent used for hysterosalpingography in adults, lymphography in adult and pediatric patients, and selective hepatic intra-arterial use for imaging tumors in adults with known hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
What Are Side Effects of Lipiodol?
Common side effects of Lipiodol include:
- hypersensitivity reactions
- blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- lung dysfunction
- worsening of liver disease
- abdominal pain
- fever
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea, and
- thyroid dysfunction
Dosage for Lipiodol
Dosing of Lipiodol depends on the procedure being performed.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Lipiodol?
Lipiodol may interact with iodine 131 treatment, and it may interfere with thyroid function tests for up to two years following administration. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Lipiodol During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
During pregnancy, Lipiodol should be used only if prescribed. This drug passes into breast milk. Because of risk of hypothyroidism in nursing infants, Lipiodol is not recommended for use while breastfeeding.
Additional Information
Our Lipiodol (ethiodized oil) Injection Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

SLIDESHOW
Digestive Disorders: Common Misconceptions See SlideshowSIDE EFFECTS
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions (Table 1) have been identified during post approval use of Lipiodol. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
The following adverse reactions are described in more detail in other sections of the prescribing information:
- Pulmonary and cerebral embolism [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Hypersensitivity reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Exacerbation of chronic liver disease [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Table 1: Adverse Reactions in the Postmarketing Experience
System Organ Class | Adverse Reaction |
Endocrine disorders | hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis |
Eye disorders | retinal vein thrombosis |
Gastrointestinal disorders | nausea, vomiting, diarrhea |
General disorders and administration site conditions | fever, pain, granuloma |
Hepatobiliary disorders | hepatic vein thrombosis |
Immune system disorders | hypersensitivity, anaphylactic reaction, anaphylactoid reaction |
Nervous system disorders | cerebral embolism |
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | pulmonary embolism, dyspnea, cough, acute respiratory distress syndrome |
Urinary system disorders | renal insufficiency |
Hysterosalpingography
Abdominal pain, foreign body reactions, exacerbation of pelvic inflammatory disease.
Lymphography
Cardiovascular collapse, lymphangitis, thrombophlebitis, edema or exacerbation of preexisting lymphedema, dyspnea and cough, fever, iodism (headache, soreness of mouth and pharynx, coryza and skin rash), allergic dermatitis, lipogranuloma, delayed healing at the site of incision.
Selective Hepatic Intra-arterial Injection
Fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are the most common reactions; other reactions include hepatic ischemia, liver enzymes abnormalities, transitory decrease in liver function, liver decompensation and renal insufficiency. Procedural risks include vascular complications and infections.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Lipiodol (Ethiodized Oil Injection)

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