How long before my MRI should I take Xanex?

I have a TIA nearly every year and the local hospital will not use open MRI'S for brain scans. The first time I had a complete meltdown. They sedated me with I don't know what, but I was out immediately. I get sedated now before the MRI'S. Dr. did prescribe two .5mg Xanax to take before a scheduled MRI & it did nothing. Since I had taken it, couldn't be sedated. Had to reschedule. Now I start to panic that something will happen in the machine when I'm out. Have another in a few days & not sure I can do it. I've had a lot of scans & nothing happens. This fear started with the first TIA. I had MRIs in the past & had no issue.

Unfortunately, my MRI's have been/will be on my head so I can't do the open one. :( I took Xanax for the first one and will ask my psychiatrist tomorrow to prescribe that or valium.

Hello grandmaof5
I have to agree with kaismama and pamee... I would say about a half hr before if you are taking it to calm you to do the mri... Trust me I hate closed in Mri's and as kaismama stated they have the open one's and even though I am on klonopin I still go to the open one's I went to a closed one and they had to pull me out cause I couldn't deal with being enclosed like that... something you might want to consider for future... the open one's r so so much better and It doesn't even bother me to were I need to take something I am on klonopin for panic/ agoraphobia... if you do take the xanax try and get someone to drive you home... hope this helps..GOD BLESS...

I would say between 30 minutes to an hour and be sure to have someone drive you after.

Not sure it matters as far as the MRI is concerned.

Hopefully you aren't driving because I'd say at least an hour before. There are new mri machines out there that don't cause that anxiety because they are open and quiet. I refused to schedule one except in an open mri.