Question 1

allergic reaction to the contrast dye for cat scan?

Accepted Answer

See below: Allergic reaction to ct scan contrast may range from mild skin rash and itching to severe skin rash and cardiac arrest. Patients at risk are those with previous adverse reactions to iodine-based contrast materials, history of asthma, history of allergy. Contrast reaction may be reduced or prevented if appropriately treated before the scan, but this is not 100%.

Question 2

allergic reaction to mri dye? i am very allergic to all sorts of things, so i'm a bit paranoid about getting an mri done.  do you know if it's common to have an allergic reaction to mri dye? if so, what type of bad reactions do people have? is there a way

Accepted Answer

Acute : Acute allergic reactions to MRI contrast material ("dye") are rare, occuring in less than 0.1% of injections. Most reactions are mild, for example a rash, itching, or nasal stuffiness. However, some reactions are moderate or severe and require immediate medical management. Moderate reactions include shortness of breath, increased or decreased heart rate, or increased or decreased blood pressure. Severe reactions include respiratory distress, abnormal heart rhythm, seizure, or cardiopulmonary arrest. A radiologist, who is a physician who specializes in diagnostic imaging, is always available near the scanner to manage contrast reactions.

There is no way to know ahead of time if you will have an allergic reaction to the dye.  Potential factors that may increase your risk of an acute allergic reaction include a history of previous allergic reaction to iv-administered contrast medium (either gadolinium-containing, which is used for mri, or iodine-containing, which is used for ct), a prior allergic reaction to a substance other than contrast media, or a history of asthma. If your risk for a severe reaction is high, for example if you had a severe reaction in the past, your doctor may offer you steroids as premedication before the scan.

Question 3

i'm proned 2 allergic reactions but never a reaction to tattoo/hair dye. i just got a tattoo & hair dyed on same day (diff. colors) will this harm me?

Accepted Answer

No: If you are not allergic to the tattoo pigments or hair dye, you are at no higher risk in developing an allergic reaction to these two unrelated products.

Question 4

what happens if you get an allergic reaction to the contrast dye for ct scan?

Accepted Answer

It varies: Milder reactions include itching, hives, nasal stuffiness, watery eyes or mild mouth/tongue swelling.  More serious reactions can occur and can even include anaphylaxis, the most serious of allergic reactions that can be life-threatening.  People who have a known allergy are often pretreated with steroids to prevent reactions.  All radiologists and techs are trained to treat contrast reactions.

Question 5

do artificial dyes(red 40, blue 1) cause allergic reactions such as swelling in throat just as natural dyes that come from plants do?

Accepted Answer

They can: It depends on your allergic status. An allergist  can help this clarify.

Question 6

i have true allergy to benadryl (diphenhydramine) (had hives when taking the dye-free for a headache.) is allegra safe for me? and would it help my allergic reactions?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Allergy to Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is rare if at all present.  Allegra is quite different from Benadryl (diphenhydramine) in structure and thus should be safe for you.  Make sure you are not allergic to the gelatin on the Benadryl (diphenhydramine) capsules.    Whether Allegra would work for you or not is another issue but it should be no less effective than benadryl (diphenhydramine).

Question 7

i had a ct of the abdomen with iv contrast 12 years ago and didnt have any allergic reaction to the dye then. is it safe to say i will tolerate it well now getting one 12 years later? no known allergies, just seasonal. on daily pepcid & zyrtec?

Accepted Answer

: You shouldn't have a problem. The reaction would be expected the first &amp; every time if your system was sensitive to it. We never say never, but chances of a problem are minimal. The radiologist would generally plan ahead and always be ready for a reaction anyway.

Question 8

can blue dye, such as fd&c blue no. 2, cause an allergic reaction such as swelling?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: I suspect the answer is yes.  11 patients with chronic, unexplained itchy skin rashes that responded to medication changes centered around avoidance of coloring agents, fd&c blue no. 1 (bright blue) and blue no. 2 (indigo carmine). Reactions to agents that color medications and foods may be more common than previously appreciated. This is from journal of drugs dermatol. 2013;12(1):99-102.

Question 9

what can i do if i had an allergic reaction to hair dye?

Accepted Answer

Put health before: perception of beauty. Listen to your body . Avoid any future use of that product.

Question 10

i just had an allergic reaction to hair dye! please help?

Accepted Answer

Derm: Very potent topical steroids can help calm the rash, but as the hair dye washes away this reaction will subside. You can get patch tested to PPD to confirm that hair dye is the problem.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Allergic reactions to contrast dye

A member asked:

Allergic reaction to the contrast dye for cat scan?

A member asked:

Allergic reaction to mri dye? i am very allergic to all sorts of things, so i'm a bit paranoid about getting an mri done. do you know if it's common to have an allergic reaction to mri dye? if so, what type of bad reactions do people have? is there a way

A member asked:

I'm proned 2 allergic reactions but never a reaction to tattoo/hair dye. i just got a tattoo & hair dyed on same day (diff. colors) will this harm me?

A member asked:

What happens if you get an allergic reaction to the contrast dye for ct scan?

A member asked:

Do artificial dyes(red 40, blue 1) cause allergic reactions such as swelling in throat just as natural dyes that come from plants do?

A member asked:

I have true allergy to benadryl (diphenhydramine) (had hives when taking the dye-free for a headache.) is allegra safe for me? and would it help my allergic reactions?

A member asked:

I had a ct of the abdomen with iv contrast 12 years ago and didnt have any allergic reaction to the dye then. is it safe to say i will tolerate it well now getting one 12 years later? no known allergies, just seasonal. on daily pepcid & zyrtec?

A member asked:

Can blue dye, such as fd&c blue no. 2, cause an allergic reaction such as swelling?

A member asked:

What can i do if i had an allergic reaction to hair dye?

A member asked:

I just had an allergic reaction to hair dye! please help?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?