Adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiopharmacy
• Pharmacovigilance

Background:

• Radiopharmaceuticals are regulated as drugs under Spanish Royal Legislative Decree 1/2015.
• Prepared in Radiopharmacy Departments, they are administered for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
• Unlike conventional drugs, radiopharmaceuticals have a low incidence of adverse reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and characterize common adverse reactions associated with radiopharmaceuticals.
• To provide an overview of published adverse events for both diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of published adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals.
• Analysis of characteristics and incidence of reported side effects.

Main Results:

• Adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals are rare and generally mild, requiring minimal treatment.
• Commonly reported reactions include nausea, dyspnea, bronchospasm, hypotension, itching, flushing, urticaria, chills, cough, bradycardia, muscle cramps, and dizziness.
• Systemic symptoms can occur, particularly in sensitivity reactions.

Conclusions:

• While rare, adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals can occur and warrant attention.
• Understanding these reactions is crucial for patient and healthcare staff awareness.
• The incidence of reported adverse events remains low, underscoring the general safety profile.