MRI & CAT scan contrast dye can cause allergic reactions and side effects

MRI or CAT Scan contrast dye can cause symptoms such as headache, shortness of breath, hives, rash, bloodshot eyes and fatigue. If you have experienced any of these symptoms after receiving MRI or CT with contrast dye you may have had or having a allergic reaction to it.

It is easy to control a allergic reaction with the correct medication but you may want to get your prescription sooner than later because it can get severer rapidly and in very bad cases can also be fatal.

I'm writing this blog to help others understand what to do if they have unusual symptoms after an MRI or CT with contrast dye, because I was never told that I could have a reaction, but I did.

After research and talking to the doctors about my allergic experience with the contrast dye here is what I learned and was never told up front.

It is common to have no symptoms with your first few doses because your body has no defense for this foreign substance being injected directly into your blood stream. Next time your body will ether accept it without any problems or rarely it will call all it's troops ready to attack the foreigner on it's next visit which will cause the allergic reaction. "Like it did me"

I learned this the hard way. In fact the first two CT and MRI's I had with the same contrast dye's I had no side effects apart from a mild headache which is typical for me anyway. Now I know it is common for the MRI or CT contrast dye to cause allergic reactions with some people. The allergic reaction may not cause any significant symptoms with the first few dosages but it has been known to i the past.

My first CT and MRI was fine with the two different contrasts BUT the 2nd CT and MRI two weeks later was different. I had the typical mild headache afterwards but little did I know the headache and what was to come was triggered by an allergic reaction. I'm not sure if it was from the CT or the MRI contrast as they were both done the same day but I now know that I am allergic to one or both of them and can take steps to prevent them in the future.

The night of my second MRI and CT with the contrasts was performed about mid day. When I was getting out of the shower I noticed a few red patches around my abdominal area. I knew it was probably caused by the contrast dye I received that day but thought it would probably go away once flushed out of my system by drinking lots of water. A few hrs later the hives spread from my neck to my belt line and I was having a headache that was worse than normal.

I called the doctor on duty at the time approx 7:00pm and told him what happened. He was well aware of these allergic reactions caused by the MRI and CT contrast dye and said I should go to ER before it got worse. I explained I felt not so bad and was just inquiring about the hives and he insisted I was better off getting the medication asap with mild symptoms rather than at 2:00am with a swollen throat and having trouble breathing.

I'm glad I listened. As I was waiting in the ER to be seen I did start to have shortness of breath. They gave me 3 pills and gave me a prescription to take for the next 5 days. I was told that it would take me some time to fully recover from it and he was correct.

The next morning the hives were almost gone but I did feel like crap for a week with fatigue and shortness of breath. These symptoms did seem to have stabilized since the trip to ER. I felt so week and needed lots of rest that week however but I gradually got my breath back and felt much better.

Why was I not warned about MRI and CAT scan possible allergic reactions up front?. I don't know but I thought to my self we need to know this stuff. What if I lived alone and decided to sleep it off and it got bad.

So if anyone comes across this post after having an MRI or CAT Scan with dye contrast and is experiencing side effects such as headache, fatigue, weakness or especially hives, rash, swelling and or shortness of breath you may be having an allergic reaction and you should at least call your doctor or local ER for your safety.

The drugs I was prescribed was Medrol, Pepcid, Zrtec and the good ole Benadryl

Hope this helps someone :)

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Tags: CT, MRI, contrast, dye, effects., side

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Comment by Tammie on August 27, 2010 at 4:06pm
I also had a reaction to the CAT scan contrast. The contrast is an iodine base and a reaction can be common. They also use an iodine one when you have an angiogram. It is best to find out what the contrast was. I was told by several doctors to have it noted on a medical history card in my wallet, even on a medic alert bracelet with you medical history eg AVM.
When I have had my MRI's they have not used a iodine base contrast and as a result no reaction. Always just check and double check.
The doctors now send me for MRI's instead of CAT scans and angiograms when they can. They do not like me having a reaction if I do not have to.
Good luck, hope this help?

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