Though safe, brain MRI scans are not completely free from side effects. The overwhelming majority of them are temporary and short-lived, such as headache, nausea, or stinging in the injection area if a contrast medium is injected. Extremely seldom, the contrast material made of gadolinium will produce allergic reactions or induce nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with defective kidneys. Moreover, the strong magnetic field will heat up the body, and this can induce complications with implanted medical devices.
Side Effects of MRI Scans
Claustrophobia and Anxieties
The most common side effect of the MRI scan is claustrophobia or nervousness. The MRI machine has a design that puts the patients in a very small, small tube-like environment where they must be immobile for some minutes. Any little enclosed space is painful and not comfortable for most individuals, especially claustrophobic patients.
Having your favorite music or listening to an audiobook of your preference while hearing during the scan is also an effective distraction from the noise.
Allergies to the contrast material
In certain MRI scans, a substance known as gadolinium is administered to produce better images of the MRI, especially in brain MRI and brain tumor MRI. Gadolinium side effects are not common, but some individuals can experience mild side effects like a rash or nausea.
Improve Solution: If you have an allergy history or history with reactions to contrast agents, notify your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can conduct a pre-scan allergy test or use a different imaging test. Allergic reaction symptoms can include rash, itching, nausea, and, in the remote possibility of an allergic reaction, trouble breathing.
MRI machines produce loud thuds and bangs that are often jarring or even frightening for most individuals while they are in the scanner. This is simply the sound of fast magnetic fields switching on and off as part of the MR process.
Suggestions for improvement: Most MRI centres will usually provide earplugs or headphones, to help limit some of the noise. You can also bring some music, an audio book, or something else to help distract or draw your attention away from the noise while in the scanner.
Special Considerations for Brain MRI
Headaches, Dizziness
Some patients report headaches and dizziness for a period of time after a brain MRI. The headaches and dizziness are for the majority of patients mild and transient, usually dissipating in a few hours.
Mild side effects
Most people will not experience Trusted Source any side effects from MRI contrast materials.
When side effects do occur, they are typically mild — common side effects include hives and rash.
According to a 2016 reviewTrusted Source that examined the side effects from gadolinium-based contrast material in children, the main side effects after the exam were nausea, and vomiting.
Drug interactions
When a patient speaks to their doctor about their medications and doctor recommends an MRI, the doctor may tell them to stop taking certain medications for a short time, or the MRI may not involve contrast material.
The doctor can help the person decide if the MRI and the contrast dye would outweigh the risk to the pregnancy.
People can breastfeed after a contrast MRI, and if people are more comfortable not breastfeeding after the MRI, they can pump extra milk to store, and can resume breastfeeding 24 to 48 hoursTrusted Source after the dye has been injected.
Conclusion
Brain MRI is a very safe procedure for most patients with infrequent and usually mild side effects. The most common problems, as mentioned, are things like claustrophobia, discomfort from noises and/or a number of uncommon (often mild) reactions from contrast agents. More serious complications are extremely rare and are typically limited to persons with a particular health concern or implanted device.
Q. What are the side effects of an MRI on the brain?
Most potential side effects are related to the contrast dye used in some situations, and most side effects of the contrast dye used in MRIs are related to allergic reactions or nausea, and most of the serious side effects relate to metallic implants which can either malfunction and or distort images.
Q. Is MRI scans safe for the brain?
Yes, brain MRI is generally safe for almost everyone. Since it doesn’t use ionizing radiation (like x-rays and CT scans) there is no exposure to radiation risk.
Q. Can you feel unwell after a brain MRI?
It is rare to feel ill after having a brain MRI, though in some cases, individuals could experience mild side effects, particularly if contrast dye is used.
Q. Can you feel unwell after a brain MRI?
While brain MRI scans are usually painless and safe, there may be mild effects, nausea, headache, or pain at the injection site being the most common.
Q. What is the cost of a brain MRI scan in Delhi, NCR?
The brain MRI scan cost in Delhi can be ballparked between 4000 INR to 6000 INR. Also this will depend from center to center and other factors associated with cost. For further details contact carebox..
