MRI and Claustrophobia: Open MRI, Sedation and Noise

Plenty of people only find out they are claustrophobic once they are lying in an MRI scanner. For some it is a few uncomfortable minutes. For others it means stopping the scan and coming back another day.

The good news is that claustrophobia rarely means you cannot have an MRI at all. This guide covers the options: practical ways to cope, open scanners, medication and sedation, the noise, and how to plan this if you are having your scan in China. It is general information, and the radiology department doing your scan will decide what is safe and possible for you.

Can you have an MRI if you are claustrophobic?

Yes, most claustrophobic people can have an MRI with the right preparation. The main options are telling the team in advance so they can explain each step, going in feet first when the body part allows it, using an open or wider scanner, taking anti-anxiety medication prescribed beforehand, or, for a small number of people, having the scan under sedation or anaesthesia.

The single most useful step is to say so when you book, not when you arrive. The booking team can tell you how long your scan will take, whether your body part goes in head first, and what they can offer. Some scans of the knee, ankle or wrist leave your head outside the machine, while brain and neck scans usually need a close-fitting head coil.

How can you manage anxiety or panic during an MRI scan?

Most people manage with a few simple techniques and a team that knows they are anxious. You are always given a call button, and you can ask the radiographer to talk to you between sequences so you know how much time is left.

If you do panic, press the button. The team can bring you out, let you settle and try again. Moving during a sequence usually means that part has to be repeated, so it is better to stop cleanly than to keep shifting.

Can you get an open MRI instead of a standard one, and is it as good?

You can ask for one, but whether it is suitable depends on what is being scanned and why. Open MRI scanners are open at the sides rather than a narrow tunnel, and many people with claustrophobia or a larger frame find them much easier. Upright or stand-up scanners exist too, but they are less common.

The trade-off is that many open scanners use a weaker magnet than a standard closed scanner. That can mean longer scan times and less fine detail, which matters more for some questions (small brain lesions, for example) than others (many joint scans). Your referring doctor or the radiologist is the right person to say whether an open scan will answer the question. Wider-bore closed scanners are a middle option offered by some centres.

Open scanners are found mostly in private imaging centres. In the UK, Alliance Medical lists an open MRI of one body part from GBP 591, or from GBP 885 in London (2026 price page), compared with a typical private range of GBP 249–750 for a standard MRI of one body part (2026 price guides).

Can you take anti-anxiety medication or be sedated for an MRI?

Yes, both are possible, but they need to be arranged in advance. A mild anti-anxiety tablet is usually prescribed by your own doctor or the doctor who ordered the scan, not by the MRI staff on the day. If you take one, you will need someone to take you home, and you should not drive.

Deeper sedation or general anaesthesia is a bigger step. It needs an anaesthetist, monitoring, fasting beforehand and recovery time afterwards, so it is usually kept for people who cannot complete a scan any other way, and for young children. It is not offered at every scanning site.

Before agreeing to sedation, the team will ask about your health, medicines, breathing problems such as sleep apnoea, and any past reactions to anaesthesia. Answer fully, because that assessment decides what is safe.

How loud is an MRI, and are earplugs or headphones provided?

MRI scans are loud, with knocking, buzzing and banging sounds made by the scanner's coils switching on and off. Hearing protection is standard: you will be given earplugs, padded headphones or both, and many centres can play music through the headphones.

If the earplugs feel loose or the noise is painful, tell the team straight away; they can stop and refit them. Knowing what the sequence of sounds is like can also help, so some people listen to a recording of MRI noises before their appointment.

What if you are planning your MRI in China?

The same options apply, but check them before you travel. We could not find any official information on whether open MRI scanners or sedation are routinely available to foreign patients in Chinese hospitals, so ask the hospital directly and get the answer in writing. Mention your claustrophobia, the body part, and whether you would want medication or anaesthesia if needed.

Cost is the clearer part. After China's national radiology price reform, a standard MRI at a public hospital costs about CNY 500 (≈ USD 75), according to Xinhua (May 2025), with provincial caps such as CNY 505 (≈ USD 75) in Guangdong and CNY 430 (≈ USD 64) at tertiary hospitals in Shanghai. Foreign patients pay the full listed price, and international departments usually charge more. If anaesthesia is needed, it will be charged separately, so ask for that figure too.

Also ask for your images on a disc or as a download, and for an English report. Reports are usually written in Chinese by default, and some hospitals offer English versions on request. That way your doctor at home can use the scan.