Symptoms Associated with Gadolinium Toxicity
As with most medical conditions, the specific symptoms of Gadolinium Toxicity will vary from person to person. Other than what you will read here and in our research papers, there is no published listing of the common symptoms of Gadolinium Toxicity. By means of a symptom survey of 17 people with high urine levels of Gadolinium, we have provided a comprehensive review of this topic in Survey of the Chronic Effects of Retained Gadolinium from Contrast MRIs, which we encourage you to read. On this page, we will provide some high-level information from that paper as well as other observations we have gathered from MRI Gadolinium Support Group. Only collective information is presented. Other than in the Viewpoints section, we will never present individual specific information.
Establishing the Gadolinium Toxicity Connection
Symptoms are generally experienced at an acute level shortly after having a contrast MRI and at a chronic level for years following their last contrast MRI. Some people have the early acute symptoms that they can tie time-wise to their contrast MRI. Often they are very frightened, and any appeals to the medical professionals involved in the contrast ordering or administration process meet with denial or disbelief regarding the connection of their symptoms to the contrast agent, and certainly there is no supportive relief. Others experience chronic symptoms that their doctors cannot explain and through research or testing they make the connection back to their contrast MRI. They, too, are concerned, but more from a viewpoint of "where is all this leading". Many people experience both the early acute problems and the chronic effects. People at both ends of the spectrum want to know what they can do to cure their Gadolinium-related problems. More about that in our Treatment Possibilities section.
Try the Gadolinium Symptom Checker
Want a structured way to compare your symptoms and MRI contrast history with published post-GBCA patterns? Use the checker for an educational pattern-fit result before discussing next steps with a clinician.
Open GAD CheckerCommon Symptoms
Some of the symptoms experienced fall outside normal descriptive terms for medical symptoms making it hard for patients to communicate to their doctors just what they are experiencing.
In rough order of frequency as reported in our Survey of the Chronic Effects of Retained Gadolinium from Contrast MRIs:
- •Pain – aching; burning, tingling, and/or prickling pain (paresthesia); deep bone pain. Typically in extremities or joints, and sometimes in the location where the MRI occurred, like the head.
- •Dermal changes – like tight skin, lesions, hyperpigmentation. Most often in extremities.
- •Muscle issues – twitching – small, local, rapid contractions and weakness
- •Ocular problems – worsening vision, dry eyes, bloodshot eyes
- •Cognitive symptoms
- •Ear, nose and throat – tinnitus, swallowing, and voice problems
- •Low body temperature
- •Hair loss
- •Itchy skin
- •Balance problems
- •Swelling of extremities (edema)
Special Note: There is one symptom experienced by many that transcends several of the symptoms listed above. It is a sense of an electrified, vibrating, twitching feeling typically just under the skin that is sometimes localized and at other times a more overall feeling. Sometimes it feels like something is crawling around under the skin. This is a particularly alarming feeling when first experienced as it is unlike anything that the person has ever experienced and it is very difficult to explain to doctors.
Symptoms of Gadolinium Deposition Disease (GDD) Explained
Do you know the symptoms of Gadolinium Deposition Disease after an MRI with gadolinium contrast? In this informative video series, we dive deep into how to identify this condition related to magnetic resonance imaging. Our radiology expert, Dr. Richard Semelka, explains the warning signs you should look out for and the steps you can take if you suspect you may be affected. Understanding the effects of gadolinium deposition is crucial for your health post-MRI. Watch now to learn more about this important topic and stay informed about your radiology procedures. Don't miss out on this essential knowledge!
Key Symptoms Discussed in This Video
Dr. Semelka covers the following key symptoms of Gadolinium Deposition Disease:
- •Burning skin pain
- •Bone pain (stabbing rib pain)
- •Brain fog
- •Pins and needle sensation in fingers and feet
- •Twitching/contraction of muscles
- •Ringing in ear (tinnitus)
- •Vision problems
- •Cardiac arrhythmias
- •GI symptoms
Progression of Symptoms
Our research showed that there is very little difference between early symptoms and ongoing, chronic symptoms. But the experience of dealing with these symptoms and the impact it has on patients' lives are often different.
Early Experience
Most people with Gadolinium Toxicity from contrast MRIs have symptoms within the first month after their contrast administration. For many, their symptoms start within a few days, and for some, within hours of being injected with the contrast agent. Usually the symptoms are intense, but for some the symptoms are more subtle. The experience can be frightening because the feelings are new and different; often, nothing is visible on the outside of the body. One's mental or emotional state can be affected.
Generally, the intensity of the symptoms will subside over time, but the reduction is not necessarily uniform, with ups and downs. The frightened feeling also dissipates with time, and the symptoms may feel less intense as the mind and body get used to dealing with them. Reading some of the Viewpoints from people who have gone through this might be helpful and joining the MRI Gadolinium Support Group can provide interactive support.
Longer Term Chronic Experience
With time, symptoms may go away or significantly subside, but patients reported on in our Survey of the Chronic Effects of Retained Gadolinium from Contrast MRIs, have been dealing with their chronic symptoms for up to 5 years with no end in sight. With little medical attention, there are no known treatments to "cure" Gadolinium Toxicity (read more in Treatments). Symptom relief and coping methods will most often bring the patient into a state of being able to tolerate or simply accept their symptoms.
As anyone dealing with chronic conditions, patients experience ups and downs, and often try a variety of approaches to lessen the impact of their symptoms. For those whose symptoms do not go away, the intensity of the symptoms may increase over time. This would seem to indicate that the Gadolinium Toxicity is continuing to negatively impact their body.
It is much harder to describe the chronic experience because each of our bodies is different and our ability to cope is different. Since nothing has been published about patients with normal kidney function who developed NSF, we do not know if anyone with normal kidney function has died from their exposure to Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents. We are also not aware of anyone who has "cured" their Gadolinium Toxicity, although some on the MRI Gadolinium Support Group have reported improvement of some symptoms after trying various treatments. Some have been diagnosed with Small Fiber Sensory Neuropathy, thyroid abnormalities, adrenal fatigue, mast cell problems and other conditions. Often these diagnoses indicate some sort of atypical presentation of the associated symptoms. Since no related medical research has been published, we have no way of knowing whether there is a connection between the Gadolinium Toxicity and these conditions.
Our best advice is to hang in there and look for those actions that will help you deal with your symptoms and make sure your doctors know what you are experiencing. We would be happy to have you join the MRI Gadolinium Support Group to pass on your experience and learn from others.
Research Abstract
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged that after MRIs with a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA), patients retain an unknown amount of gadolinium (Gd) in the brain, bone, skin, and other tissues, where it can remain for months to years. Although Gd is a toxic metal recognized as the primary cause of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), harm attributed to long-term Gd retention in patients with normal renal function has not been recognized.
Results: From a list of 60 symptoms, 19 of the 28 most frequently reported symptoms of the NSF Group were also ranked among the top symptoms reported by two groups of Gd-exposed patients without renal impairment, indicating a substantial overlap in clinical presentation between what has been published about early-phase NSF and the post-GBCA symptom complex. Eleven of the 19 most frequently reported symptoms involve the nervous system.
Conclusion: These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that gadolinium exposure is associated with a spectrum of manifestations and underscore the need for standardized recognition, systematic clinical assessment, and further objective study of Gd-associated multisystem symptoms in all patient populations.
Key Findings
Survey Participants
316 patients with normal or near-normal renal function who experienced symptoms after MRI with a GBCA, plus 8 patients with biopsy-confirmed NSF.
Gadolinium Retention Confirmed
185 patients had laboratory tests confirming gadolinium retention 30 days or longer after their last MRI, with some cases showing retention for up to 22 years.
Symptom Overlap with NSF
19 of the 28 most frequently reported symptoms in the NSF Group were also ranked among the top symptoms reported by patients with normal renal function, indicating substantial overlap in clinical presentation.
Nervous System Impact
11 of the 19 most frequently reported symptoms across all patient groups involve the nervous system, consistent with gadolinium's toxic effects on calcium channels.
Unconfounded Cases
75 patients received only one type of GBCA (19 linear & 56 macrocyclic) with confirmed gadolinium retention. The same 14 nervous system symptoms ranked in the top 25 for both linear and macrocyclic agents.
Chronic Effects
43% of patients reported changes in employment status due to health issues, and 41% said altered brain function affects their ability to work as they did prior to MRIs.
Symptoms by Body System
Symptoms reported within the first 3 months after last MRI with GBCA (WITH Group - 185 patients with confirmed gadolinium retention)
Nervous System
Skeletal System
Integumentary System (Skin)
Endocrine System
Cardiovascular & Circulatory System
Digestive System
Respiratory System
Urinary System
Early-Phase NSF Symptoms
According to Marckmann & Skov (2009), "skin changes and neuropathic symptoms predominate the early phase of NSF." The early phase ranged from 14 to 60 days after GBCA exposure, with an intermediate phase of 60 to 180 days.
- •Skin changes - Rash, erythema, skin discoloration, itching, burning sensations, swelling
- •Neuropathic symptoms - 80% of patients complained of pain, dysesthesia (burning, itching, electric-shock sensations), or hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain)
- •Muscle weakness complaints are common
- •Deep bone pain in the hips and ribs
- •Diffuse hair loss in up to 50% of patients
- •Acute gastroenteritis discomfort with pain, vomiting, and diarrhea
- •Red eyes as signs of noninfectious conjunctivitis in 20% or more
- •Acute pneumonia symptoms in 15%, including shortness of breath, hypoxia
- •Signs of systemic inflammation with fever, elevated C-reactive protein, elevated ferritin, anemia
Survey Methodology
Participants
- 316 patients with normal or near-normal renal function who experienced symptoms after an MRI with a GBCA
- 185 patients had a laboratory test confirming gadolinium retention 30 days or longer after their last MRI (WITH Group)
- 131 patients did not have gadolinium testing performed (WITHOUT Group)
- 8 patients with biopsy-confirmed nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF Group)
Survey Design
The online Patient Survey was created using SurveyMonkey and included 60 symptoms compiled from patient reports, published literature on Gadolinium Deposition Disease (GDD), and Symptoms Associated with Gadolinium Exposure (SAGE). Participants completed the survey without knowledge of other participants' responses.
Geographic Distribution
Patients from around the world participated: 220 from the United States, 12 from Australia, 30 from Germany, 19 from the UK, 12 from Canada, and others from 20+ additional countries.
Important Conclusions
The symptoms reported by those with normal renal function closely match the early phase symptoms of NSF as well as the responses of the NSF Group in this survey. This pattern consistency supports the hypothesis of a gadolinium-related symptom spectrum that extends to those with normal renal function.
Evidence of harm can be found in how body systems dysfunction due to gadolinium's interference with various processes, particularly those that require calcium for proper function. The number of survey responses linked to the nervous system is consistent with gadolinium's documented toxic effects on calcium channels, as acknowledged by the FDA in a 2007 Memorandum.
The Patient Survey results warrant a comprehensive investigation into the long-term adverse health effects of gadolinium retained in connective tissues and glandular tissues in all patient populations.
The symptoms data from this Patient Survey combined with the FDA's 2007 Memorandum that stated, "unchelated gadolinium is a very toxic compound, particularly to the liver and to calcium channels," warrant acknowledgement that retained gadolinium can cause harm to patients with normal renal function, just as it did to some renally impaired patients diagnosed with NSF.
BADGaD & Overlapping Conditions
Many patients with BADGaD (bad adverse effects of gadolinium) can have unknown multiple afflictions going on, either before or after their gadolinium poisoning. These overlapping conditions can include infections, toxic exposures, and metabolic deficiencies that may mimic, mask, or amplify gadolinium-related symptoms.
These additional contributors need to be recognized and carefully investigated rather than dismissed or treated as a single, simple diagnosis. When symptoms are complex and multi-system, it is reasonable to screen for other factors such as chronic infections, mold and biotoxins, EMF sensitivity, medication toxicities, other heavy metals, and nutritional deficiencies that can interact with gadolinium-related illness.
Citation
Williams, S., Grimm, H., Ratnam, S., Walsh, C. (2025). Signs & Symptoms after Gadolinium Administration: A Patient Survey. Report 1: Symptoms Paralleling Early-Phase NSF. Published Online: GadoliniumToxicity.com
Learn More About Patient Experiences
Gadolinium Deposition and Toxicity: Humanizing a Life-Changing Event by Debbie Heist Lambert offers a patient perspective on gadolinium deposition and toxicity, humanizing this life-changing event through personal experiences shared by patients from around the world. The heartfelt stories in these pages represent real examples of adverse reactions and events following one or more injections of GBCA (gadolinium-based contrast agent), providing insight into the signs, side-effects, symptoms, and associations that patients report.
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