Gadolinium Side Effects

May 23, 2008

Gadolinium Dyes Used in These Cat Scans Linked to NSFWhen asking about gadolinium side effects patients are more often than not referring to Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis symptoms, as the symptoms of NSF are essentially the side effects of gadolinium (used as a contrast agent during an MRI) combined with renal failure / poorly functioning kidneys that are unable to properly expel the gadolinium from the patient’s system.

Patients with renal dysfunction (bad kidneys) who get an MRI using gadolinium dye are at risk to develop all of the symptoms of NSF, including hard, shiny, darkened skin that tightens and becomes extremely painful, joint inflexibility, loss of movement, yellow-colored eyes, painful joints, and lung, heart and organ damage.

In general, whether or not you have kidney problems (as many people remain unaware of kidney damage), if you have received an MRI at some point and are experiencing any of the following side-effects, have your medical records checked to see if gadolinium dyes were used in your MRI: Burning, Itchy or Swollen skin, hardening / tightening of the skin, swelling of the joints, yellowish eyes or yellow spots on the whites of the eyes, red or darkish spots on the skin, stiff joints, loss of movement in the joints, deep pain in the hips or ribs and muscle weakness.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned doctors about the use of Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents and the potential side effects / health problems associated with gadolinium dye in patients with kidney problems. Doctors should be screening all patients for kidney health, regardless of medical history, if the patient is scheduled for an MRI.

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Written by E. Sizemore · Filed Under Featured 

Comments

7 Responses to “Gadolinium Side Effects”

  1. Danny on May 24th, 2008 12:59 am

    I have all the gadolinium side effects / NSF symptoms described above, but as far as I know my kidneys are fine. Thanks for the info. Now I can go have my kidneys checked out to see if perhaps that is the issue. The MRI was only six months ago so hopefully no permanent damage has been done by the side effects of the gadolinum injection.

  2. Denise on May 27th, 2008 6:18 pm

    Danny, i also have the side effects after having back surgery 18 months ago. Dr.s don’t know why i have a numb left leg and very sharp pains in my knee along with my left hip. They have done more test, more mri’s and nothing is wrong? i have the symptons of the h/p also and never had a problem in the past? I have calls out to Dr’s on this now it’s the waiting game again … I called the hospitals to see if they use this dye. and YES they do, but now they do blood testing before the MRI, never did with me?…. keep me posted of your symptons, and your test and i’ll do the same.

  3. dora amos on May 27th, 2008 6:57 pm

    i have about 7S mri.
    dates back to 1981 till now

  4. Julie Shell on July 9th, 2008 9:50 pm

    I had an MRI with gad just over 2 years ago. When I left the building to walk to my car, it was dark outside. I noticed that street lights, tail lights, oncoming traffic headlights, and even porch lights were severly blurred, beyond “halos.” I thought the MRI had damaged my contacts, so I replaced them when I got home.

    Not only did that not help, but I noticed I was missing my lower left eye’s lashes! A strong burning odor oozed from my pores. The next day, my co-workers a few cubicles away complained of the burning smell - that’s how strong it was! I got cooked!

    The girl at the front desk told me a few weeks later that patients complain about those same symptoms “all the time.” When the MRI manager confronted her about this, she denied saying this to me, afraid of losing her job. One of the radiologists that owned the company, who retired a few months later, insisted that it was impossible that I could be experiencing side effects.

    I searched the internet for answers. A few months later, I saw a commercial for a class action lawsuit. As an employee of the radiology company, I waited until I found new employment before trying to join the lawsuit, but was told that my side effects were not part of the lawsuit. To this day, those same lights at night blind my ability to see curbs and anything in the area of those lights.

    Does anyone else have these same side effects? Any idea how much longer I will have to live with this? As a night student, I have no choice but to drive.

  5. Lorene Barry on July 14th, 2008 4:47 pm

    I have muscle weakness, and total constipation, never had this before. I have joined a fitness center to see if I can get some muscle back and go daily to build up muscle. Have lost muscle and weight, now am in size 4-6, from 9-11 before the tests. 2 MRAs for pituitary adenoma apoplexy. Even with all this knowledge, the docs want me to have another MRA.

  6. Felicitas Garcia on August 2nd, 2008 3:16 am

    I have a MRI on june 6th, 2008 after that I was losing my hair and my skin is so dry and itchy. I am afraid of loose all my hair because I can’t comb it because it fall really bad. I am so scared and I do not know what to do. Does anyone else have this side effect?

  7. Sorenna on August 12th, 2008 6:51 pm

    I, too, began with symtpoms right after- eyes and skin.

    There are some pretty good heavy metal cleanses on the market. I am doing one.

    Because gadolinium is a heavy metal, I am hoping it will help. It is a month long program. I have been doing it one week so far. I will keep you posted.

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