florbetapir (18F)

Florbetapir (18F) is a diagnostic agent used during imaging of the brain to estimate plaque density in patients who are being evaluated for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

Florbetapir (18F) belongs to a group of drugs called radioactive diagnostic agent. This medication works by binding to the plaque in the brain in order to be detected during imaging of the brain.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of florbetapir (18F) include headache, muscle pain, and an increase in blood pressure.

Florbetapir (18F) is a diagnostic agent used during imaging of the brain to estimate plaque density in patients who are being evaluated for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

florbetapir (18F) may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Amyvid

Common side effects of florbetapir (18F) include the following:

• Headache
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Blood Pressure Increase
• Nausea

No drug interactions have been studied by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported. 

Florbetapir (18F), similar to other radiopharmaceuticals, contributes to a patients overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure. Long-term cumulative radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of florbetapir (18F), there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication. 

Before taking florbetapir (18F), tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to florbetapir (18F) or to any of its ingredients
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Florbetapir (18F) falls into category C. No well-controlled studies have been done in animals. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

All radiopharmaceuticals, including florbetapir (18F), have a potential to cause harm to your unborn baby. The likelihood of harm to your unborn baby will depends on the stage of fetal development and the dose of florbetapir (18F). 

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. 

It is not known if florbetapir (18F) crosses into human milk. Because many drugs are excreted into human milk and because of the potential for radiation exposure to nursing infants from florbetapir (18F), avoid use of the drug if you are breastfeeding or temporarily stop breastfeeding for 24 hours after exposure to florbetapir (18F). If you stop breastfeeding temporarily, pump and discard your breast milk and use alternate infant nutrition sources (e.g., stored breast milk or infant formula) for 24 hours after administration of the drug.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV)  by a healthcare professional. 

The recommended dose for florbetapir (18F) is 370 MBq (10 mCi), maximum 50 ug mass dose.

If florbetapir (18F) is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.