After the scan, you can resume normal activities immediately. But if you have had a sedative, a friend or relative will need to take you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. It's not safe to drive, operate heavy machinery or drink alcohol for 24 hours after having a sedative.
There aren't any side-effects from the MRI scan itself. However, if you've had an injection of contrast medium (dye) as part of the investigation, you may have some side-effects which might include a skin rash, dizziness, a headache, and nausea.
Several studies have shown that MRI causes severe anxiety in 37% of patients, even those who state that they are not claustrophobic, and 5–10% cannot complete MRI due to claustrophobia [7].
You won't have pain from the magnetic field or radio waves used for the MRI test. But you may be tired or sore from lying in one position for a long time. If a contrast material is used, you may feel some coolness when it is put into your IV.
Gadolinium can also cause an allergic reaction. The current claims are different. The side effects patients are reporting now include joint pain, muscle fatigue and cognitive impairment that can last for years. The gadolinium used in the dye is anchored to a molecule to create a nontoxic compound.
More non-optimal sleep duration was observed among participants who entered an MRI room more often (7–20 days) in the past 4 weeks (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.11–3.44) than who entered the MRI room sometimes (1–6 days). Most participants with non-optimal sleep duration (n = 108) reported sleeping <7 h (n = 93, 86%).
Second degree burns are the most commonly reported patient problem. Other reported problems include injuries from projectile events (objects being drawn toward the MRI scanner), crushed and pinched fingers from the patient table, patient falls, and hearing loss or a ringing in the ear (tinnitus).
Vertigo induced by exposure to the magnetic field of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner is a well-known phenomenon within the radiology community but is not widely appreciated by other clinical specialists.
Since the MRI machines are magnets, it is best to not apply deodorants, antiperspirants, perfumes, or body lotions before the examination. These items contain metals that might interfere with the magnetic field inside the MRI machine and cause you to have distorted images and wrong results.
Any movement by the person during the scanning process causes blurring of the images. The combination of the closed environment and the noise make it uncomfortable for some patients, especially if they are claustrophobic.
After receiving MRI contrast
You should be able to continue with your day as normal. Drink plenty of water after the MRI scan to help your kidneys flush the contrast out from your body. If you become unwell during the day after your scan, go to your nearest emergency department or general practitioner (GP).
If you had intravenous contrast, you should drink at least eight glasses of water throughout the day to help flush the contrast out of your body. Your doctor will receive the results within 48 hours.
The MRI scan is a non-invasive, painless and safe procedure that doesn't require any 'recovery time'.
On very rare occasions, a few patients experience side effects from the contrast material. These may include nausea, headache, and pain at the site of injection. It is very rare that patients experience hives, itchy eyes, or other allergic reactions to the contrast material.
With normal kidney function, most of the gadolinium is removed from your body in the urine within 24 hours.
There are no known side effects of an MRI scan. The benefits of an MRI scan relate to its precise accuracy in detecting structural abnormalities of the body. Patients who have any metallic materials within the body must notify their physician prior to the examination or inform the MRI staff.
Sedation for diagnostic services conjures up images of pain and discomfort. MRI sedation is used during an MRI for patients who cannot remain still in the scanner due to problems such as anxiety, claustrophobia, or a condition that causes physical discomfort.
You must lie very still during the scan. If you move, the MRI scan pictures may not be clear. Your primary care physician may order you a mild sedative if you are claustrophobic (afraid of closed spaces), have a hard time staying still, or have chronic pain.
As a result of the foreign body's ease of movement in the strong magnetic field at this period, your vision is seriously threatened. Because of this, radiologists advise keeping your eyes closed throughout an MRI to protect them.