Sedating a patient for an MRI involves administering medications, often benzodiazepines like midazolam or dexmedetomidine, or sometimes propofol, intravenously (IV) or orally, by an anesthesiologist or trained staff to induce relaxation, drowsiness, or sleep, making the scan possible for those with severe claustrophobia or anxiety, with careful monitoring of vitals throughout the procedure for safety.
What if I am claustrophobic? If you suffer from claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), talk to your doctor when your MRI is ordered so you come to the scan with some type of sedation, such as Xanax or Diazepam (Valium). “Do not show up for your MRI and expect your technologist to have any sedation on hand.
During the Procedure
Options include: Moderate sedation – Drowsy but responsive. Deep sedation or general anesthesia – Fully asleep and unaware.
If you are having a MRI appointment, your doctor may prescribe an oral medication for you to take to minimize your anxiety. During your exam, our technologist will see you and be in contact with you at all times. Speakers inside the scanner will enable the technologist to communicate with you and hear what you say.
For patients who may experience claustrophobia during an MRI scan and require prophylaxis, the University of Wisconsin Department of Radiology suggests the use of Lorazepam (Ativan, Temesta), a short-to-intermediate duration benzodiazepine.
How long does an MRI with sedation take? MRIs take different amounts of time depending on the body part that is being scanned. Anesthesia will add at least thirty minutes. The MRI scan itself can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours.
Increased movement can result in the images being blurred or of poorer quality but being in an enclosed space can cause some people to become stressed, and in some more extreme cases, cause panic attacks.
Claustrophobia Option 1: High-Field Open MRI
RAYUS offers two alternatives to the traditional MRI. The first option is a High-Field Open MRI. Instead of a tube-like machine, this MRI has open sides and nothing pushes on your arms or shoulders.
Today, when it comes to getting an MRI, that innate reaction is considerably less helpful if your doctor says you need a scan to guide your treatment. The escape reaction leads some people to crawl right out the end of an MRI machine during the middle of an exam.
Before an MRI, do not wear or bring metal (jewelry, pins, underwire bras, coins), skip cosmetics with metallic particles (mascara, glitter), avoid lotion/oils on the area, leave electronic devices at home, and always inform staff about implants, pregnancy, or kidney issues, as fasting and patch removal depend on the specific exam and contrast use, so follow your doctor's precise instructions.
Patients requiring sedation were compared by these criteria to all non-sedated members over 18 years of age in the cohort who acted as a control. Of the 939 patients 134 (14.3%) required oral sedation, IV sedation, or general anesthesia to tolerate MRI.
As a patient, it is vital that you remove all metallic belongings in advance of an MRI examination, including external hearing aids, watches, jewelry, cell phones, and items of clothing with metallic threads or fasteners.
MRI noises can range anywhere from 65 decibels to 130 decibels. They can often go above 90 to 100 decibels, requiring the patient to wear ear protection. For your reference, common loud noises measure at these decibel levels: 70 decibels: Alarm clock or vacuum cleaner.
Some MRI exams include use of injected contrast agent to highlight features in an image and help radiologists diagnose medical conditions. If an injected MRI contrast agent is needed for your imaging, an IV catheter will be inserted in your arm by a nurse or technologist.
Many MRI procedures don't require your head to go inside the machine at all, but if you need a head or upper spine MRI, you'll appreciate the fact our machine provides a full 12 inches of clearance between your face and the wall – relieving stress for our patients with claustrophobia.
You will meet the anesthesiologist and they will obtain your consent for anesthesia prior to the MRI. They will explain possible complications and side effects.
Request a Wide Bore MRI Scan
Ask if your imaging facility has a wide bore MRI unit, which is larger and can provide a more comfortable experience. This option is particularly beneficial if you are claustrophobic, in pain or scheduling an exam for a young child.
It is very important to remain still during your MRI scan as any movement can cause blurring on the images. If you cough during the scan and the images are not clear, we may need to repeat the scan. We will give you a call bell so if you are going to cough a lot then you can press that and we will pause the scan.
For patients who experience anxiety or difficulty remaining still, sedation can be arranged under physician guidance.
An open MRI is what it sounds like — it's open on three sides, making it the largest and least-confining MRI machine. Younger patients, those with larger body types, or those who are claustrophobic may opt for an open MRI over a wide bore or traditional MRI because they prefer a more comfortable experience.
On average, MRI scans take just 30 to 60 minutes from start to finish. Durations vary depending on the type of MRI exam or the body part being scanned. A brain MRI, for example, may take longer than a lumbar spine MRI.
5 ideas for what to do during an MRI to relieve anxiety
Until recent MRI technological developments, patients had to hold their breath for as long as 20 seconds during many MRI sequences. “Product manufacturers became interested in speeding up examinations,” De Becker says. “The patient can keep breathing, and the MRI system takes care of the rest.”
If you are claustrophobic and anxious about getting an MRI, you are not alone. Claustrophobia affects about 12.5% of the population, but getting an MRI can pose significant issues for more than 9% since MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans involve inserting the patient into a large magnetic tube.