Reaction to CT or MRI contrast dye

isaxx · 2023-05-31T17:09:47+00:00

Has anyone felt dizzy, nauseous, faint, soon after or indeed a few hours after getting contrast dye? I had a CT yesterday and MRI today, both with contrast and was hit with a sudden sense of vertigo, hot head, nausea out of the blue 30 mins after CT and a couple of hours after MRI. Is this just a coincidence or a common thing?

ScottishBeth · 31/05/2023 18:13

It is quite rare to have a reaction to contrast in MRI, more common in CT. Honestly I would contact the department where you had your scans and ask to speak to a radiographer. If no luck there speak to the doctor who referred you. They might be able to give you some advice but also if you need future scans you need to tell them in advance.

How are you feeling now?

Staplesonstamps · 31/05/2023 18:17

I’ve had a reaction to contrast dyes. Mine was a horrible itchy oedematous rash though. It was covering my entire midsection. I went for another scan, told the radiographer that I’d had a reaction before, they assured me this was different dye and should be fine….. same thing happened. I was given steroid tablets for it as it really was bad, I looked burned. This was an MRI and then a CT

booktokbear · 31/05/2023 18:19

It's the buscopan that does this.

I have frequent scans, and when they give you contrast they will also give you a dose of buscopan. Last time I had to wait for it to wear off before I could drive home.

My husband is an mri radiographer and it is pretty common.

Hopefully it'll wear off soon op but in the meantime this puts your mind at rest.

weegiemum · 31/05/2023 18:30

I had a nasty itchy reaction to a CT contrast dye for a kidney scan. Was told it's quite common, I was given an antihistamine injection and it went away fairly quickly. Not nice though!

Biscuitmonster2318 · 01/06/2023 07:27

Do you take metaformin at all? I have had a really bad reaction to Ct contrast dye. There is a protocol in NICE guidelines for using contrast dye if taking certain drugs unless life or death emergency.

Shouldbehoovering · 01/06/2023 07:46

Oh my - such poor and incorrect information being given here!! The contrast used in MRI and CT are completely different substances. Reactions to either are rare, extremely rare in the case of MRI. Contrast is fairly routinely given for CT and much less likely given for MRI. Whether or not you have contrast is determined by what they are looking at/for and some scans maybe useless without it.

Buscopan is not often given in CT and only for certain examinations (such as a CTpneumocolon in order to make air administeration easier and more comfortable). It is given more often in MRI to reduce peristalsis which will give movement artifact and reduce the image quality.

Contrast given in CT may affect kidney function. If you kidney function is poor AND you take metformin, you may be advised to stop the metformin for 48hours as they can interact and reduce kidney function further.

it is very very unlikely that you will have reacted to both but do mention it in future and the likelihood and risk of you having another reaction will be decided by a radiologist before it is given again. We do err on the side of caution.

Shouldbehoovering · 01/06/2023 07:49

To clarify, contrast in mri is routinely given, but required for a number of scan types than CT

Biscuitmonster2318 · 01/06/2023 09:10

Shouldbehoovering · 01/06/2023 07:46

Oh my - such poor and incorrect information being given here!! The contrast used in MRI and CT are completely different substances. Reactions to either are rare, extremely rare in the case of MRI. Contrast is fairly routinely given for CT and much less likely given for MRI. Whether or not you have contrast is determined by what they are looking at/for and some scans maybe useless without it.

Buscopan is not often given in CT and only for certain examinations (such as a CTpneumocolon in order to make air administeration easier and more comfortable). It is given more often in MRI to reduce peristalsis which will give movement artifact and reduce the image quality.

Contrast given in CT may affect kidney function. If you kidney function is poor AND you take metformin, you may be advised to stop the metformin for 48hours as they can interact and reduce kidney function further.

it is very very unlikely that you will have reacted to both but do mention it in future and the likelihood and risk of you having another reaction will be decided by a radiologist before it is given again. We do err on the side of caution.

I apologise I hadn’t mentioned about kidney function with taking metaformin.

BlackInk · 01/06/2023 09:35

I had a reaction to contrast dye (iodine) for a CT scan of my stomach.
Seconds into the scan I got a sudden sensation like I was going to pass out/throw up then burning in the back of my nose and throat, nose blocked and uncontrollable shaking. I managed to complete the scan but afterwards the nurses noticed what was happening. Bright red face, high temperature and blood pressure, nausea, shaking, feeling of swelling in nose and throat but no breathing difficulties. They called the crash trolley and gave me antihistamines, luckily symptoms started to resolve quickly and I was pretty much fine after an hour. Pretty scary. I'm allergic to wasp stings (extreme swelling) and get hay fever but never had anything like that before.

Original poster

isaxx · 01/06/2023 10:30

Hi no I don't take any drugs so not sure why this happened. It just seems strange to put it down to coincidence.

OP posts:

HRTeatime · 01/06/2023 12:06

booktokbear · 31/05/2023 18:19

It's the buscopan that does this.

I have frequent scans, and when they give you contrast they will also give you a dose of buscopan. Last time I had to wait for it to wear off before I could drive home.

My husband is an mri radiographer and it is pretty common.

Hopefully it'll wear off soon op but in the meantime this puts your mind at rest.

People can have reactions to contrast. It’s not common, but it is certainly a thing. the I’ve had multiple doses of iv buscopan for colonoscopies (pre and post MRI) and never had an issue. I most certainly did have a reaction to the gadolinium based contrast I was given towards the end of my scan. As soon as it was administered I felt hot and as though my throat was restricting. I figured I was just having a bit of a panic and tried to just breath and count myself through it. When they came in to get me out they were seriously freaked out at the incredible rash I’d developed in the few minutes of them finishing the scan. I had to have iv antihistamines and monitoring before I could go home. The Dr who came to review and medicate me gave me the info leaflet of the contrast so I wouldn’t forget it’s name for future reference.

If you’ve had a reaction to an iodine based contrast you are more likely to have a reaction to a gadolinium based contrast is my understanding (having done a considerable amount of reading around after the event!). This article might be of interest to you op (and those insisting you are wrong).

https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/full/10.1148/radiol.210545

Flopsythebunny · 01/06/2023 12:13

BlackInk · 01/06/2023 09:35

I had a reaction to contrast dye (iodine) for a CT scan of my stomach.
Seconds into the scan I got a sudden sensation like I was going to pass out/throw up then burning in the back of my nose and throat, nose blocked and uncontrollable shaking. I managed to complete the scan but afterwards the nurses noticed what was happening. Bright red face, high temperature and blood pressure, nausea, shaking, feeling of swelling in nose and throat but no breathing difficulties. They called the crash trolley and gave me antihistamines, luckily symptoms started to resolve quickly and I was pretty much fine after an hour. Pretty scary. I'm allergic to wasp stings (extreme swelling) and get hay fever but never had anything like that before.

I was just the same as you with the contrast for ct scans. I have to have them without now. I'm fine with mri contrast though