When someone says it's just "Routine,"
they mean it is "Routine" for them,
not necessarily your body.
It seems everyone I know is lining up for an MRI for one reason or another. There is not a second thought about the procedure because “it’s routine”. Just for the record, your body might disagree and that is the kind of language that can get you into trouble. The issue is gadolinium, the most commonly used contrasting agent used to enhance MRI testing.
If your body is at all compromised, you are obligated to know more before accepting “routine” procedures. If your history includes metals poisoning, you know that you don’t react like others when it comes to common procedures and drugs.
Agreeing to an MRI means accepting the potential dangers of gadolinium. The topic may never come up as the FDA does not have strict guidelines on informing patients of the dangers. Here is what the FDA is currently saying:
05-16-2018 Update
In addition to approving the updated prescribing information concerning the gadolinium retention safety issues described in the Drug Safety Communication below, FDA has also approved new patient Medication Guides for all GBCAs.
Health care professionals and patients can access the patient Medication Guides according to the GBCA drug name* on the Medication Guides webpage, or the latest prescribing information by searching in Drugs@FDA.
All MRI centers should provide a Medication Guide the first time an outpatient receives a GBCA injection or when the information is substantially changed. In general, hospital inpatients are not required to receive a Medication Guide unless the patient or caregiver requests it. A health care professional who determines that it is not in a patient’s best interest to receive a Medication Guide because of significant concerns about its effects may direct that it not be provided to that patient; however, the Medication Guide should be provided to any patient who requests the information.†
The second paragraph clearly says that the patient does not have to be informed, unless they ask. It goes on to say if the medical provider does not feel it is in your best interest, as a consumer to know, the information can be kept from you.
There are side effects that can be temporary and permanent. The range of symptoms varies, but as with other metals poisonings, the root cause is often ignored in favor of treating symptoms. The biggest problem is that gadolinium travels throughout the body and settles in organs, bone and tissue. It crosses the blood brain barrier, offering potential danger to the brain.
If your body is at all compromised, you are obligated to know more before accepting “routine” procedures. If your history includes metals poisoning, you know that you don’t react like others when it comes to common procedures and drugs.
Agreeing to an MRI means accepting the potential dangers of gadolinium. The topic may never come up as the FDA does not have strict guidelines on informing patients of the dangers. Here is what the FDA is currently saying:
05-16-2018 Update
In addition to approving the updated prescribing information concerning the gadolinium retention safety issues described in the Drug Safety Communication below, FDA has also approved new patient Medication Guides for all GBCAs.
Health care professionals and patients can access the patient Medication Guides according to the GBCA drug name* on the Medication Guides webpage, or the latest prescribing information by searching in Drugs@FDA.
All MRI centers should provide a Medication Guide the first time an outpatient receives a GBCA injection or when the information is substantially changed. In general, hospital inpatients are not required to receive a Medication Guide unless the patient or caregiver requests it. A health care professional who determines that it is not in a patient’s best interest to receive a Medication Guide because of significant concerns about its effects may direct that it not be provided to that patient; however, the Medication Guide should be provided to any patient who requests the information.†
The second paragraph clearly says that the patient does not have to be informed, unless they ask. It goes on to say if the medical provider does not feel it is in your best interest, as a consumer to know, the information can be kept from you.
There are side effects that can be temporary and permanent. The range of symptoms varies, but as with other metals poisonings, the root cause is often ignored in favor of treating symptoms. The biggest problem is that gadolinium travels throughout the body and settles in organs, bone and tissue. It crosses the blood brain barrier, offering potential danger to the brain.