A brief cool feeling where MRI contrast is injected, mild injection-site discomfort, headache, or nausea can occur. Tell imaging staff immediately about a reaction while you are still at the center. Afterward, seek urgent help for difficulty breathing or swallowing, and contact a clinician about severe, persistent, unusual, or worsening symptoms.
MRI contrast usually means a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) given through a vein to improve images. Not every MRI uses contrast, and gadolinium agents are different from the iodinated contrast used for many CT scans.
What side effects can MRI contrast cause?
RadiologyInfo says a cool sensation at the injection site—usually in the arm—may last a minute or two. The needle can cause brief discomfort, and bruising may appear afterward. Patient drug information also lists burning, pain, warmth or coldness around the injection site, headache, and nausea. Tell a doctor if these effects are severe or do not go away.
The U.S. prescribing information for Gadavist (gadobutrol), revised February 2026, identifies headache, nausea, and dizziness as its most common adverse reactions meeting the label’s stated threshold of at least 0.5% incidence. That threshold applies to the reactions grouped in the Gadavist label; it is not the incidence of each effect and is not a rate for all gadolinium agents. A class-wide numeric rate for common or severe reactions is not established by the sources cited here.
Is it normal to feel cold after MRI contrast?
A cool feeling at the injection site for a minute or two is described as a possible brief effect. Contact the care team if the sensation is severe, persists, worsens, or comes with other concerning symptoms.
How long do side effects last?
There is no universal duration established for all side effects. A brief cool sensation is described as lasting a minute or two, but symptoms that are severe or do not go away should be reported to a doctor.
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When should you call a doctor or seek emergency care?
If you are still at the imaging center when symptoms begin, alert staff immediately. MedlinePlus advises calling a doctor immediately or getting emergency medical treatment for rash, itching, hives, dizziness, or difficulty breathing or swallowing after a GBCA. Difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a rapidly worsening reaction, should be treated as an emergency.
Contact your care team about severe or persistent headache, nausea, or injection-site pain, and about any unusual or worsening problem. Do not wait for a particular number of minutes or hours: the patient guidance does not set a symptom-onset cutoff.
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Can MRI contrast affect your kidneys?
Kidney disease matters because nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a rare but serious condition, is associated with kidney disease. The current Gadavist label identifies the greatest risk in people with chronic severe kidney disease (GFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m²) or acute kidney injury. That product-label threshold is not a universal rule for every contrast agent or patient; the imaging team determines what screening and agent selection are appropriate.
Before the scan, disclose kidney disease or past kidney problems. MedlinePlus also advises telling the care team about diabetes and high blood pressure as requested. Do not assume that a particular test or agent will be used; the care team assesses your circumstances.
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Does gadolinium stay in the body?
Yes. The FDA’s December 19, 2017 safety communication says gadolinium may remain in the body, including the brain, for months to years. Retention is a known phenomenon, but it is not the same as demonstrated harm: the FDA said retention had not been directly linked to adverse health effects in patients with normal kidney function and that the benefits of approved GBCAs continued to outweigh potential risks.
RadiologyInfo likewise describes tiny traces retained in organs, including the brain, and says no negative effects were known in its guidance. For people likely to have repeated scans, the clinician may consider retention when selecting an agent. Agent choice depends on the imaging question and individual circumstances; it is not something to rank or select independently.
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What should you tell the imaging team before the scan?
Before receiving contrast, tell the physician or technologist about:
- Known allergies
- Current medicines and supplements
- Kidney disease or previous kidney problems
- Pregnancy, the possibility of pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding
Is MRI contrast safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Pregnancy
Tell the imaging team if you are pregnant or could be pregnant. ACR guidance and RadiologyInfo describe routine GBCA use in pregnancy as generally avoided because of uncertainty. A clinician may weigh using it when the diagnostic information is essential and cannot be obtained otherwise.
Breastfeeding
RadiologyInfo reports that available data support continuing breastfeeding after intravenous contrast, consistent with ACR and European Society of Urogenital Radiology guidance. A parent who remains concerned may discuss an optional 24-hour pause with the care team; interruption is not presented as mandatory.
What can you do after the MRI?
If you were not sedated, RadiologyInfo says no recovery period is necessary and you can resume your usual activities and diet after the exam. Follow any individualized instructions from your imaging team.
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Quick Recap
Sources
- MedlinePlus: Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents Drug Information
- RadiologyInfo.org: Patient Safety—Contrast Material
- FDA: Gadolinium-based contrast agents are retained in the body
- DailyMed: GADAVIST (gadobutrol) injection
- American College of Radiology: Gadolinium Pregnancy Screening Statement
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