Lexiscan and Shortness Of Breath: What Users Say

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

For Diagnosis and Investigation "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."

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

For Diagnosis and Investigation "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."

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2021

For Diagnosis and Investigation "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?"

• Org...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2015

For Radionuclide Myocardial Perfusion Study "I had an anaphylactic reaction. Within 30 seconds of the drug being injected, my chest began to tighten, and I could not feel my feet. The numbness continued to spread upward until I could feel nothing from my chest down, with continuing increased chest pain and wheezing. They placed me in reverse Trendelenburg position and called for a cardiologist. I became increasingly diaphoretic, increasing chest pressure, still unable to feel anything below my neck, and I could not move my head. I received several IV pushes. It took them over 30 minutes to stabilize me and return me to baseline-able to move all four limbs with normal vital signs. This occurred within a hospital setting, but they proceeded with the test anyway. I am asthmatic on meds."

• Kat...
• March 21, 2023

For Diagnosis and Investigation "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."

• Old...
• April 12, 2016

For Diagnosis and Investigation "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."

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

For Diagnosis and Investigation "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."

• Anonymous
• July 13, 2021

For Diagnosis and Investigation "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."

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

For Diagnosis and Investigation "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."

• Mae...
• October 21, 2021

For Diagnosis and Investigation "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."