need something to help me deal with claustrophobia while in MRI

[AltecDarpa]

Hello, I recently went to have a MRI and was doing fine with the concept despite my slight claustrophobia up until the technician strapped my head into the little cage/mask they use to get images of your head. At that point my mind said NOPE and I had to get out of there.

The tech recommended I talk to my doctor about getting something calm me down, and I am wondering what the best drug for this would be?

I was able to get a small dose of lorazepam (3, .5mg tabs) and after reading about the effects of the drug I am doubting it will be enough. I need something that will make me dopey enough that I wont even be concerned in the least about the ordeal. I don't want to waste their time there and keep having to go back.

I have read that valium makes you feel pretty groovy and gets rid of anxiety, would valium better suit my problem? any other suggestions?

has anyone here had a similar problem with having a MRI? what worked for you?

 

[Blackhawktown]

Yep, same exact thing happens to me during MRI's. I literally was crying I had it so bad I was in there for like 4 hours I had an entire body MRI due to condition I have. Now I just take high doses of lorazepam 4 or 5mgs.

Hope this helps!

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

Clonazepam is good for phobias including claustrophobia. Its rather sedating and can make you dopey in doses around 2mg although that may be too much for a 1st timer like you. Maybe 1-1.5mg would do the job for you...keep you sedated and out of it.

 

[The450Man]

id say any benzo would help. klonopin ftw

 

[AltecDarpa]

so you guys think I should be ok with lorazepam or clonazepam? I want to be kinda out of it, will either of these 2 drugs achieve this? or should I go with valium

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

Klonopin will put you out of it more than Lorazepam. Lorazepam is rather subtle.

 

[phatass]

a small dose of benzos should at least partially relieve you're anxiety/claustrophobia... Be SURE to tell the docs at the MRI what you have taken though, or it might interphere with their results or other medication they mmight give you for the MRI... i'm not sur how these things work

 

[Keif' Richards]

This sounds like a legitimate reason for a medical professional to dole out some benzos to you. I'm not even claustrophobic, but MRI's definitely fuck with me too. They're a lot faster these days at least. I remember when I was just a little tyke, I was in the machine for like an hour.

 

[purple_cloud]

I recently had my first MRI and honestly didn't find it nearly as bad as I expected. Although I didn't need anything, they did tell me that they would have given me a single dose of diazepam about a half hour before if I felt really nervous, but if they did I was not permitted to drive myself home and had absolutely no one willing to take a minute out of their day to help me out. The noises of the MRI bothered me the most...but yeah, just tossing out there that the MRI tech said that the most they will do is a dose of valium right beforehand.


I don't know much about the type of MRI you needed, but is there any way for you to have an open one [I was also told these cost more, so if you're doing this sans insurance they might have other options too]? They had a lot of options at the place I went to, since they felt that giving anyone sedating medication was an absolute last resort (apparently some people freak out with open MRIs too).

 

[StaySedated]

i actually did MDMA before an MRI once.

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

MDMA for an MRI? Sounds like an interesting experience.