“What type of sedation is used for an MRI?”

Very light sedation or general anesthesia.

Mild sedation

Anywhere from oral to intravenous sedation to anesthesia, depending on anxiety level.

For adults, usually no sedation. Not needed, as there is no discomfort.

Usually no sedation is used for MRIs unless the person is extremely anxious, or can't stay still. In these cases, everything from sublingual lorazepam, oral, intravenous or intramuscular injections of major tranquilizers, intravenous midazolam, propofol infusions for deep sedation or general anesthesia can be used depending on local preferences and staffing. These other options need to be addressed and requested at the time of the booking and not on the day of the scan!
Best wishes.

Most of the time, a single dose of oral anxiety medicine is sufficient. Valium is usually the drug of choice.

If sedation is needed for an MRI, by mouth long-acting anxiolytics are the best choice for sedation. You don’t want to be over sedated and have emergency airway complications arise.

To answer what kind of sedation is used for an MRI, it varies by the doctor who orders the test. For a child or infant who cannot understand instructions, general anesthesia with a breathing tube and anesthetic gas may be needed. For an adult who has no history of claustrophobia, a fear of being in an enclosed space, nothing may be used. For an adult who understands and is healthy, mild sedation is usually in the form of a pill of diazepam, also known as Valium. A prescription is usually sent to a local pharmacy close to the patient's home, for 1 or 2 tablets. If you are an adult who has medical problems or is completely unable to lay still for an MRI, there are two possibilities: sedation with an IV or general anesthesia. Intravenous liquid diazepam or a similar one like midazolam, which also makes you have amnesia and forget everything, can be used with pain medication like fentanyl. The anesthesiologist answers all your questions before the procedure and watches over you to be sure everything goes very well.
I hope this answers your question.

Margaret Aranda, MD

The vast majority patients do not receive any sedation. A small percentage of patients will receive an oral sedative such as Valium or Ativan. An even smaller percentage will require general anesthesia.