Lexiscan for Diagnosis and Investigation User Reviews

• Sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2020

"My Dr. ordered this for pre-op testing. I had never heard of it, so I explored it online. After reading the side effects and patient testimonials, I was petrified to have it done! I just thought I was going to die. I had the test this morning. After the injection, I waited for all of the side effects to hit! Very minimal. Mild shortness of breath. Slight headache and some shoulder pain. I realize everyone is different, but if your Dr. orders this for you, it's not as bad as you're going to imagine it to be. I should also say I have a panic disorder. My body overreacts to anything out of the norm."

• Ano...
• September 9, 2020

"I had a Lexiscan scan this morning and wanted to share my experience since this is where I looked for other patient experiences. I was expecting the worst, and it ended up being super easy. I stressed myself out and lost sleep over this test for no reason. They told me it would last 4 minutes, but it felt like it was less than that. At first, I noticed my legs felt weird, and I felt a couple of seconds of very mild chest discomfort, followed by a headache (which disappeared after they gave me coffee). I hope this review helps someone out. I know I found comfort in reading about people who didn’t experience extreme side effects. It was not bad at all! Please don’t stress over it."

• Rel...
• February 15, 2011

"I took the Lexiscan stress test yesterday. The hardest part of the test was lying still for 45 min. The chemical was injected during the last 10 min, and I felt no real side effects. I had a slight taste in my mouth for maybe 20 seconds, and I noticed that my heart rate increased. After a couple of minutes, my heart started slowing, and after the 10 min period, I felt normal. If you are scheduled for the test, stop worrying, it's not that bad. Don't stress out from all the horror stories you read on the Internet."

• She...
• March 4, 2018

"I originally went to the hospital with chest pain radiating to my left arm in the middle of the night. Being a previous MI patient, they did continuous blood work until noon the next day and then did the Lexiscan. This was the second Lexiscan I have had, and by golly, it was uncomfortable! I nearly ripped the technician's leg off because I felt my chest tighten down so darned hard. Well, the test went well, and I went home that evening. Two days later, I began itching all over my body, then broke out in hives. That was on Oct 25th, it is now Mar 3rd, and the dermatologist has tried everything in the book to stop the hives, to no avail! I have walked the floor all night because it itches much more when you are at rest. I am 69 years old and have never had any sort of skin problems, but this, this is driving me insane, and the only thing that precipitated this horrible case was the Lexiscan! I don't know who to report this to, so maybe someone can direct me. Thank you."

• Anonymous
• June 13, 2018

"This is a follow-up to my post on March 3rd. I had a Lexiscan in Oct and broke out in hives and itching, and now it is June 12th, and the hives and itching have not stopped since. I have been under the care of a dermatologist the entire time and now an endocrinologist, who says whatever is going on is systemic, which means there is something in my blood that the body is fighting with antibodies, most likely a drug. Well, I discontinued my blood pressure meds back in Dec in hopes it was that, but alas, it wasn't. I have serious questions about this Lexiscan drug and how long it stays in your system and if anyone else had been itching and breaking out in hives for over six months after having one."

• lol...
• November 14, 2017

"This may help the scan so they can check your heart, but the result for the patient is horrible. After 2 days of having this injected, I broke out in a rash, hives, the color of my skin was red and hot. So far, I have taken: 3 days of Benadryl 50 mg 3 times, Benadryl nighttime so I could sleep, an entire bottle of calamine lotion, (just about) a bottle of Aloe Vera Gel, cut the leaves of the Aloe Vera plant, used the gel, Vicks VapoRub, Max-Arnica cream, Hydroxyzine 50 mg 1 time, Cetirizine 2 times a day, Betamethasone AUG 0.05%, Prednisone 10 mg, Methylprednisolone 4 mg, Cortisone cream. I am on the 3rd week and have no relief from the hives; doctors have given up; they tell me that it will pass. This is too much!! HELP..."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2020

"Terrible. The second I was injected, I became very hot... flushed... feeling in my face. Then I got shortness of breath as if I were jogging on a treadmill. Then my legs, arms, and upper back cramped up. Thankfully I didn't get dizzy, but did feel a bit 'off' in the head. The nurse offered me coffee, as she said it would counteract the effects of the medicine. While the coffee didn't work... they gave me the reversal meds, which had me feeling fine in a few minutes. I would rather walk on the treadmill than get this stuff injected... terrible."

• BMW...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 4, 2021

"I had very mild symptoms, very slight chest pressure, and some discomfort in my right arm two days before the chemical stress test. Even though I'd had no more symptoms, I didn't feel comfortable getting this test, but the hospital talked me into it. Long story short, it triggered a heart attack, and I was rushed to the CAT lab where I received a stent. HORRIBLE experience."

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2021

"Scary... extreme and rapid shortness of breath... bad headache that went behind eyes and towards the end of the test, nausea. Would never agree to this test again. Cannot believe this is appropriate or safe for anyone like me who has had a STEMI and coronary artery disease. Also, shouldn't BP be monitored several times throughout the test?"

• Anonymous
• May 17, 2012

"I had this test today. I did feel somewhat dizzy and flushed, but for only a couple of seconds. I did get a headache that did not go away, so they gave me the antidote and it went away almost right away. It was not as bad as I had expected. The only thing I am wondering about is later in the day I became very nauseated. Not sure if this was from the medicine."

• jjm...
• October 21, 2011

"Had it used for a stress test at a local VA Medical Center. Had mild chest discomfort, mild discomfort in both legs, and raised pulse. Not as bad as expected, no nausea or other side effects. Do not worry if you are asked to have a stress test using it."

• Kat...
• March 21, 2023

"I purposely did not Google Lexiscan as I didn't want to put any preconceived side effects in my head before the test. I was nervous as I don't like chemicals injected into my body. I'm a 60-year-old female, 5'9", 140 lbs, and an athlete. Since having COVID, I get minor shortness of breath and slightly abnormal EKGs. So in order to push myself to swim, I received a test. When they injected me with Lexiscan, I immediately felt hot, chest tightness, and I couldn't swallow. I almost ripped out the IV. The nurse said, 'Just breathe.' It was very uncomfortable. Then you have to lay still for 10 minutes more while they take images. After, they removed the IV. When I tried to stand, my legs were numb and tingly. The nurse said they probably fell asleep, give it a minute, then my arms were numb. After a few minutes, I hobbled into the waiting room and every joint in my body started to hurt. Later, my EKG showed I had no oxygen and was put on a beta blocker. I'm furious. The next day I felt okay. I won't get this again."

• PdR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2022

"It was horrible. I feel like I had a heart attack. It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest, and I started crying. They gave me Lexiscan and told me to keep exercising. I told them I felt like I was having a heart attack. They said that was normal. There is no way that EXTREME PAIN was normal. I am still having problems."

• NOL...
• June 3, 2015

"I have been itching since I had this test on Monday... over 40 hours ago... this med should not be given to patients who take asthma meds. I guess no one cared enough to read my medical history. I am concerned about this med staying in my body."

• Old...
• April 12, 2016

"Wasn't fully prepared for the immediacy of the effect of this drug. As soon as it was injected, I felt like I was suffocating, almost claustrophobic. It plateaued quickly and came down, went away quickly, but it was scary initially. Feel the cardiologist could have done a better job of prepping me for the effect. It certainly raised my heart rate, I'll give it that."

• mul...
• February 27, 2019

"I had Lexiscan done. Twenty minutes after the drug was administered, I went into V-Tach. I'm a healthy, in great shape, 49-year-old male. Never had V-Tach in my life. My heart is completely normal. No doubt to me this stuff can have an adverse effect on some people. Just know the risks before you take it."

• Ang...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 3, 2019

"When the Lexiscan was injected in the IV on Oct. 1, 2019, immediately the adverse reactions started with shortness of breath, nausea, headache, tightness, jaw pain, and stiffness, as well as dizziness. Upon rising up, a nitro was administered, but still could not eat anything afterward, but did intake liquids (Sprite) to help nausea. This was definitely a cakewalk compared to 2018, which the Lexiscan helped indicate my 95% blockage. I think if Lexiscan helps any cardiologist save a life, then the minor adverse reactions are worth it."

• Soa...
• November 12, 2020

"I was injected with the Cardioli te first, waited approximately 30 minutes, pictures taken, and then injected with the Lexiscan for the stress test. I became extremely sick after leaving the exam room. My thighs were in cramps, pain in my left arm, and vomiting. Took hours for it to wear off. Was I allergic to medicine?"

• Anonymous
• July 13, 2021

"I had Lexiscan inside an MRI scanner. I am claustrophobic and was worried the drug would make me freak out in the tube. I also worried that it might trigger my v tach or make me dizzy, as I am prone to hypotension and have previously required atropine on three occasions. However, the effects were mild and tolerable. Within ten seconds of receiving the drug, I felt as though I had just walked up some flights of stairs. My heart rate raised, and I was slightly breathless... but not in a suffocating way. I had very slight lightheadedness lasting a few seconds. The shortness of breath resolved within about 60 seconds, and my heart rate gradually came down to normal over 4 minutes. The shortness of breath was not distressing - I was able to hold my breath for the scan less than a minute after receiving the drug. My heart rate went from 50 to 110 with the drug, but that felt okay... as though I had exerted myself. I felt normal within 4 minutes apart from a slight headache."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2019

"PROCEDURE: Lexiscan stress test, nuclear portion. This was a same-day rest and stress protocol in which a total of 10.5 mCi of Cardiolite was given at rest, and a total of 30.0 mCi Cardiolite was given after the Lexiscan stress test. I had no side effects. The actual test was not extremely uncomfortable, just raised HR very high. HR reversed to normal quickly. Was given coffee for whatever reason. Keep in mind, the test is not useful for diagnosing coronary microvascular disease, the one women have. Cardiolite is a nuclear radioactive isotope termed technetium Tc99m sestamibi. It is a different drug, not the one FDA warns about 'FDA warns of rare but serious risk of heart attack and death with cardiac nuclear stress test drugs Lexiscan (regadenoson) and Adenoscan (adenosine).'"

• Mun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2021

"For me, this was not near as bad as I've seen from others online. I was quite scared to have this test because of all of it. The staff at my doctor's office was very reassuring and made me feel at ease. The picture parts were a snap, I just had to lie back with my hands above my head. When it came to getting the IV, I was told what I might expect and also told it would be brief, and said they had an injection to calm me if necessary. I felt a slight warmth, a sense of panic, and a tad breathless. They allowed me to sit up and remove my mask. It passed very quickly. I did not need the other injection. At the end of everything, I was told, 'we got some pretty good pictures.' Take all comments with a grain of salt, weighed with what you know about yourself. Above all, ask a lot of questions of the experts."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 15, 2023

"I was very anxious about having the chemical nuclear stress test. I was given Lexiscan and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. Felt a little heaviness in my legs, which I expected. I was instructed to keep swinging and felt like a bit of a rush, like when you are on a roller coaster climbing up and then going down…absolutely nothing else and no lingering side effects days after."

• Mar...
• August 30, 2024

"I was afraid to do this test. I felt no warmth from the tracer. I felt a couple seconds of head rush with some strange zapping pains in my back, and that was it. Slight headache, but they gave me a cup of coffee, and it got better. Now I feel silly worrying about the test. It was really no big deal."

• Sas...
• February 11, 2021

"F, 115 LB, 55. I had it done in a hospital setting while under observation. It does make your heart race, but it is very quick. They gave me coffee afterward. The staff were excellent to keep me calm. Knowing nothing beforehand is the best. Just surrender to whatever happens. Result: I had no blockages."

• Mae...
• October 21, 2021

"I was very stressed for my Echo and Lexiscan, but I had both this morning, and I had a little shortness of breath, facial redness, headache, nausea, but they gave me meds that made me feel better 15 to 20 minutes later. Everything went fine, less than I had expected, surrounded by staff that were with me every step of the way. Nothing to it. Easy."