Lexiscan and Numbness: What Users Say

• suz...
• August 29, 2019

For Radionuclide Myocardial Perfusion Study "Immediately after the Lexiscan was injected, lightheaded, dizzy, nauseated, an uncomfortable substernal feeling, my arms and legs felt weak, a very brief strong urge to defecate, followed by severe abdominal pain that persisted for hours! I developed numbness in my feet and a crampy pain in both calf muscles that lasted all day. They gave me a large cup of regular coffee to reverse the drug. This helped but only temporarily. That evening, I started feeling really sick - not actually nauseated but I had no desire to eat. The substernal discomfort lasted for 2 days. The weakness, generalized fatigue and muscle aching were still present more than 9 days after the test, severe enough to prevent me from being able to do many of the basic things that need to be done every day!"

• 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."