Optison Side Effects

Generic name: perflutren

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 6, 2023.

Note: This document contains side effect information about perflutren. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Optison.

Applies to perflutren: intravenous suspension.

Serious side effects of Optison

Along with its needed effects, perflutren (the active ingredient contained in Optison) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking perflutren:

Less common

• Chest pain
• feeling of warmth
• fever or chills
• redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• trouble breathing

Rare

• Hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
• fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
• redness of the skin

Incidence not known

• Blurred vision
• chest discomfort or tightness
• cold, clammy skin
• confusion
• dizziness
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fainting
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• fast, weak pulse
• feeling of warmth
• headache
• hoarseness
• irritation
• joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• nervousness
• no blood pressure or pulse
• noisy breathing
• pounding in the ears
• redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• seizures
• stopping of heart
• sweating
• trouble swallowing
• unconsciousness
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Other side effects of Optison

Some side effects of perflutren may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

• Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• change in taste
• cough
• discomfort at the injection site
• nausea or vomiting
• sore throat
• stuffy or runny nose

Rare

• Back pain
• body or muscle aches
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• change in color vision
• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• difficulty with moving
• difficulty seeing at night
• discoloration of the skin at the injection site
• dry mouth
• hearing loss
• increased sensitivity of the eyes to sunlight
• muscle pain or stiffness

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to perflutren: intravenous suspension.

General

The most frequently reported adverse reactions were headache, nausea and/or vomiting, warm sensation or flushing, dizziness, and back pain.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Serious but uncommon cardiopulmonary reactions, including fatalities, have been reported during or following administration of this medication. Most serious reactions occurred within 30 minutes of administration.

QTc prolongation of greater than 30 milliseconds occurred in 29% (64/221) of patients evaluated. Of these patients 72% (46/64) were further evaluated and 39% (18/46) were found to have cardiac rhythm changes. (Definity(R))^[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal ECGs, bradycardia, tachycardia, palpitation, hypertension, hypotension

Postmarketing reports: Fatal cardiac arrest, shock, syncope, symptomatic arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, bradycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia), hypertension, hypotension^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Flushing

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus, rash, erythematous rash, urticaria, increased sweating, dry skin^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Nausea

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspepsia, dry mouth, tongue disorder, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Common (1% to 10%): Back pain

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthralgia^[Ref]

Nervous system

Common (1% to 10%): Headache

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Leg cramps, hypertonia, vertigo, paresthesia, dizziness, taste perversion

Postmarketing Reports: Coma, loss of consciousness, convulsion, seizure, transient ischemic attack, agitation, tremor, vision blurred, dizziness, headache, fatigue^[Ref]

Renal

Common (1% to 10%): Renal pain^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Albuminuria^[Ref]

Hematologic

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Granulocytosis, leukocytosis, leukopenia, eosinophilia, hematoma^[Ref]

Local

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Injection site reaction^[Ref]

Ocular

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Conjunctivitis, abnormal vision^[Ref]

Other

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Decreased hearing^[Ref]

Respiratory

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Coughing, hypoxia, pharyngitis, rhinitis, dyspnea

Postmarketing reports: Fatal respiratory arrest, dyspnea, hypoxia, respiratory distress, stridor, wheezing^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Postmarketing reports: Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions^[Ref]

Postmarketing reports of anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions have included: anaphylactic shock, hypersensitivity, bronchospasm, throat tightness, angioedema, edema (pharyngeal, palatal, mouth, peripheral, localized), swelling (face, eye, lip, tongue, upper airway), facial hypoesthesia, rash, urticaria, pruritus, flushing, and erythema.^[Ref]

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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