indigo carmine at a glance
Medicine class
Diagnostic dye
Licensed role
Detecting suspected ureteric injury during abdominal or pelvic surgery
Administration
Slow intravenous injection by a healthcare professional during surgery
Expected visible effect
Temporary dark-blue discolouration of urine
What is indigo carmine used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for diagnostic use only.
Detecting suspected ureteric injury during abdominal or pelvic surgery.
How does indigo carmine work?
The kidneys remove indigo carmine from the blood, turning urine dark blue. Seeing coloured urine emerge from each ureter helps the surgical team assess urinary flow and identify possible injury. Its alpha-adrenergic activity can temporarily increase blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
indigo carmine preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 40 mg/5 mL
How to take indigo carmine
Indigo carmine is not taken by mouth or self-administered. A healthcare professional gives it slowly into a vein during surgery while monitoring blood pressure and heart rate. Filtration during administration is recommended because the solution is intensely coloured.
Food, drink and alcohol instructions do not apply.
Tell the surgical or anaesthetic team about heart conditions, allergies, kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding and all medicines you use.
indigo carmine side effects
Common or expected effects
- Temporary increase in blood pressure
- Slowing of the heart rate
Get urgent medical advice
- Very rare severe allergic or anaphylactoid reaction
- Very rare breathing difficulty or bronchial hyperreactivity
- Very rare low blood pressure, fast heart rate or heart-conduction block
- Very rare rash, redness or skin discolouration
indigo carmine in pregnancy
Pregnancy data are limited. The selected product is not recommended during pregnancy or for women who could become pregnant and are not using contraception. Tell the surgical and anaesthetic team if you are pregnant, may be pregnant or are planning pregnancy.
indigo carmine while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether indigo carmine or its metabolites enter human milk, and a risk to a breastfed child cannot be excluded. A specialist should weigh the benefit of breastfeeding against the benefit of using indigo carmine and decide whether breastfeeding or administration should be withheld.
indigo carmine interactions
Formal interaction studies have not been performed. The clinical team should review all medicines before administration.
Medicines that slow the heart rate
Use requires caution because indigo carmine can also cause bradycardia.
Common questions about indigo carmine
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why is indigo carmine used during surgery?
It colours urine dark blue so the surgeon can see urinary flow from the ureters and assess possible injury.
Is it a treatment?
No. It is a diagnostic agent and does not treat the underlying condition.
Does blue urine mean something is wrong?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.