Mannitol injection: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

You should not use mannitol in the following conditions:

• Heart-related problems or heart failure
• Kidney problem
• Kidney failure
• Pregnancy or trying to get pregnant
• Breastfeeding
• Fluid in the lungs
• Allergy to mannitol
• Bleeding in the brain (not due to surgery)
• Dehydration

Generally, mannitol does not affect blood pressure levels. Mannitol has to be injected by a trained nurse or a doctor. It can reduce blood pressure levels in case of an overdose or if it is injected rapidly.

Mannitol has to be taken based on the prescription given by your doctor. The dosage and duration will vary based on your health condition. Generally, mannitol is given once every 4 hours. It should not be given for more than 8 days.

Mannitol does not cause any adverse reactions. However, consult your doctor immediately if you are allergic to mannitol and develop severe symptoms such as breathing difficulty, swelling of lips, hands or lower legs, less or no urine or chest pain.

Mannitol is administered before performing any surgery or a urology procedure. Mannitol has to be given very slowly to stay in the blood for a minimum of 30 minutes. Rapid release tends to affect blood pressure and can result in cardiac arrest.

Yes, mannitol is a diuretic given to increase urine output. It is generally given to evaluate the functioning of the kidney.

Mannitol does not cause fever. But the side effects may include dryness of the mouth, thirst, more urination, dizziness, headache, rashes or chest pain.

The brain can swell because of illness, injury or other reasons, which is very difficult to treat. Mannitol reduces the thickness of the blood so that it reaches the brain faster. This helps in reducing the swelling of the brain and preparing for surgery.

Using isotonic mannitol can result in hyponatremia (low sodium concentration in the blood) or hypernatremia (high sodium concentration in the blood) because of water loss from the body cells and swelling.