Pentagastrin (Diagnostic)
Brand Names : Peptavlon
Before Having This TestIn deciding to use a diagnostic test, any risks of the test must be weighed
against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make.
Also, test results may be affected by other things. For pentagastrin, the
following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to pentagastrin. Also tell your health care professional
if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,
or dyes.
Pregnancy - Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done
in either humans or animals.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether pentagastrin passes into
the breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts,
many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are receiving
this diagnostic test and wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their
doctor.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult
patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of pentagastrin
in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects
or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use
of pentagastrin in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you will be given
pentagastrin, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Antacids or
-
Anticholinergics (medicine for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps)
or
-
Cimetidine (e.g., Tagamet) or
-
Famotidine (e.g., Pepcid) or
-
Nizatidine (e.g., Axid) or
-
Omeprazole (e.g., Prilosec) or
-
Ranitidine (e.g., Zantac) - These medicines decrease the effect
that pentagastrin has on the production of stomach acid, and the test may
not work
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of pentagastrin. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Gallbladder problems or
-
Liver disease or
-
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) (severe) or
-
Stomach ulcer (severe or bleeding) - Pentagastrin may make these
conditions worse
Preparation for This TestUnless otherwise
directed by your doctor:
-
Do not eat anything beginning the night before and do not drink anything
for at least four hours before the test. Having food or liquid in the stomach
may affect the interpretation of the test results.
-
Do not take antacids on the morning of the test. To do so may decrease
the effect of pentagastrin and affect the test results.
-
For 24 hours before the test, do not take any anticholinergics (medicine
for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps), cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine,
ranitidine, or any other medicine that decreases stomach acid. Do not take
omeprazole for 96 hours (4 days) before the test.
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