Fludeoxyglucose F-18: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Fludeoxyglucose F-18 is a radioactive diagnostic agent sold in the U.S. under one brand. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Radioactive Diagnostic Agent
- Available as
- Injectable · Solution
- Sold as
- Fludeoxyglucose F18
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
How fludeoxyglucose f-18 is dosed
From the FDA label for Fludeoxyglucose F18 (application ANDA204463). Other fludeoxyglucose f-18 products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Fludeoxyglucose F18 Injection emits radiation. Use procedures to minimize radiation exposure. Calculate the final dose from the end of synthesis (EOS) time using proper radioactive decay factors. Assay the final dose in a properly calibrated dose calibrator before administration to the patient [see Description ( 11.2 )] . Fludeoxyglucose F18 Injection emits radiation. Use procedures to minimize radiation exposure. Screen for blood glucose abnormalities. In the oncology and neurology settings, instruct patients to fast for 4 – 6 hours prior to the drug’s injection. Consider medical therapy and laboratory testing to assure at least two days of normoglycemia prior to the drug’s administration ( 5.2 ). In the cardiology setting, administration of glucose-containing food or liquids (e.g., 50–75 grams) prior to the drug’s injection facilitates localization of cardiac ischemia ( 2.3 ). Aseptically withdraw Fludeoxyglucose F 18 Injection from its container and administer by intravenous injection ( 2 ).The recommended dose: For adults is 5 mCi–10 mCi (185 MBq–370 MBq), in all indicated clinical settings ( 2.1 ). For pediatric patients is 2.6 mCi (96.2 MBq) in the neurology setting ( 2.2 ). Initiate imaging within 40 minutes following drug injection; acquire static emission images 30–100 minutes from time of injection ( 2 ). 2.1 Recommended Dose for Adults Within the oncology,…
Fludeoxyglucose F-18 side effects
Hypersensitivity reactions with pruritus, edema and rash have been reported in the post-marketing setting. Have emergency resuscitation equipment and personnel immediately available. Hypersensitivity reactions have occurred; have emergency resuscitation equipment and personnel immediately available ( 6 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact SOFIE Co. at 800-207-1865 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Who shouldn’t take fludeoxyglucose f-18
None. None ( 4 ).
Fludeoxyglucose F-18 drug interactions
The interaction of Fludeoxyglucose F18 Injection with other drugs taken by patients undergoing PET imaging has not been studied.
Every fludeoxyglucose f-18 product we track (1)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
Only one: Fludeoxyglucose F18.
How long fludeoxyglucose f-18 keeps
No fludeoxyglucose f-18 label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does fludeoxyglucose f-18 expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsWhat people report to the FDA about fludeoxyglucose f-18
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 189 reports naming fludeoxyglucose f-18, and the FDA flagged 69% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- cytokine release syndrome20 reports
- nausea10 reports
- neutropenia10 reports
- wrong product administered10 reports
- hypotension8 reports
- product label on wrong product8 reports
- acute kidney injury7 reports
- rash maculo-papular7 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean fludeoxyglucose f-18 caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is fludeoxyglucose f-18?
Fludeoxyglucose F18 (Fludeoxyglucose F-18) is a radioactive diagnostic agent.
What kind of drug is fludeoxyglucose f-18?
The FDA classifies fludeoxyglucose f-18 as a radioactive diagnostic agent. A radioactive diagnostic agent is a small dose of a radioactive substance attached to a molecule that travels to a specific organ or tissue. Once there it gives off radiation that a scanner outside the body detects, producing images that show where that tissue is or how it is working. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take fludeoxyglucose f-18 with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run fludeoxyglucose f-18 against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What forms does fludeoxyglucose f-18 come in?
Across the brands we track, fludeoxyglucose f-18 is currently marketed as injectable and solution, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic fludeoxyglucose f-18?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic fludeoxyglucose f-18 product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Fludeoxyglucose F-18: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/fludeoxyglucose-f-18
- MLA
- “Fludeoxyglucose F-18: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/fludeoxyglucose-f-18.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for fludeoxyglucose f-18 on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.