Will taking Diazepam help me get through my MRI without another panic attack?

Question

I was scheduled 2 days ago to have an MRI of my lower back due to pain issues. I have had about 4 closed MRI's in the past 2 years to monitor benign liver lesions, my doctor wants to make sure they don't change in size. The one I tried to have done the other day, as soon as they put me in the machine, head first for my back scan, I began to panic, and felt like I was going crazy. I told the technician to get me out, and that I can't go throught with this. I had an open MRI for my back the next day, with little problem, I knew the sides were open and I could stretch out my arms, if necessary. I did keep my eyes closed the whole time though.

I need to have a closed MRI with contrast next week for the liver condition, and I don't think I can do it. I did talk to my primary doctor about the panic attack and he did prescribe three 5 mg tablets of Diazepam. I am to take one the night before, one an hour before and the last right before the MRI, if I feel I need it. He said after I take the pills, I will not care about the MRI. The last closed scan I had a year ago, I told the operator that I had previous shoulder problems and since I have to have my arms raised over my head the whole time, I do get burning pain in my shoulders. She proceeded to stuff pillows under my arms around my head. When they moved me into the machine, I felt as though they were putting me in a bottle and then putting a stopper (the pillows) in the end. I felt completely terrified. They took me out and removed the pillows and only gave me a folded blanket for my head. I did manage to make it through. Part way through they have to remove me from the machine to inject the contrast into an IV they start before the scan. When they put me back in the machine, I know that I am almost finished.

Anybody else have these problems with panic attacks during closed MRI's? If you were given an anti-anxiety drug, did it help? The drug Diazepam is I think the generic for Valium and is supposed to relax me.

My next scheduled closed MRI is for Wednesday, January 11th. Any helpful advice for me?

Connie

Answer 1

You are not alone. Sounds like Claustrophobia (fear of closed in spaces) to me. I had to have the same kind of MRI for lower back problems. When I told the Doctor there was no way he was going to get me into that **** machine gave me Lorazipam (Ativan), which is similar in effect to Diazepam, and it helped immensely. Take the Diazepam. It also helps if you can set yourself up to think about something else, like doing multiplication tables in your head. My thing is to imagine myself going through a Tai Chi exercise in my head. I use one that takes about 15 minutes to do. You can do things like trying to remember all the words to the Star Spangled Banner. Anything like that.

The MRI helped them find out what was wrong, they put titanium bolts in my lower spine to fix it. Now, a little over a year later, everything works fine again.

Good luck and much good Chi to you.

Answer 2

Mri Claustrophobia Panic Attack

Answer 3

Diazepam is a resounding unsuccessful drug for panic attacks. Most even average doctors have long abandoned it. It is highly addictive and in some studies was shown to be less effective that placebo! The ideal management is CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy, with a 70% cure rate. Problem is on the NHS waiting lists to receive it are unmanageably long. Because of this medication does need to be used in the interim, though none offers treatment, only symptom relief, SSRIs like Prozac are probably the most useful drugs.

Answer 4

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When I had the same problem, I used Ativan (0.5 mg) to relieve the panic attack in the moment. At the same time, I was starting Celexa, which fixed the underlying brain chemisty issues. After 2-3 weeks on celexa, I never needed the Ativan again (it acts MUCH more quickly than Valium - diazepam - and gets out of your system faster, too). I stayed on Celexa for about 2 years, then slowly tapered off, and I do not have anxiety attacks anymore.

Answer 5

Valium is not very potent, but is long lasting. It probably isn't the best drug for what you want, you would probably be better off with a stonger benzo, but one that doesn't last as long. There are several to choose from, and different doctors tend to favor one over another based on their experiences.



Taking enough Valium to prevent a panic attack will leave you dopey and sleepy all day long. You would probably be better of with a more potent short lasting benzo.



Talk to your doctor to see what is available. I would personally take xanax, it is potent and short lasting. It won't leave you dopey, it wears off after a couple of hours, and it will turn the panic meter to zero long enough for you to get through the MRI.



Good luck - please talk to your doctor about something better than Valium.

Answer 6

Valium is a branded form of diazepam, a drug used for the short-term relief of symptoms related to anxiety disorders. If you think you can get better advice on here than what your doctor gives you, you need a new doctor!

Answer 7

Well Diazepam is used in epilepsy to control patients.. so i guess it could be used... but ask ur doc first