Preparing for an MRI does not have to feel confusing. Most MRI scans need only simple preparation, but the exact steps can depend on the body part being scanned, whether contrast dye is used, and your health history.
If you are wondering what to do the night before an MRI, the main steps are simple: review your instructions, check fasting rules, avoid metal items, choose comfortable clothing, prepare your documents, and get proper rest.
What Is An MRI?
An MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging scan, is a medical imaging test that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed pictures inside the body. It does not use X-ray radiation.
Doctors may recommend an MRI scan to check the brain, spine, joints, abdomen, pelvis, blood vessels, or soft tissues. Because the MRI machine uses a powerful magnet, patient safety screening is very important before the scan.
Why MRI Preparation Matters?
MRI preparation helps the scan go smoothly and safely. Even small metal objects can interfere with the magnetic field or affect image quality.
Good preparation also helps prevent appointment delays. When patients arrive with the right documents, proper clothing, and clear safety information, the radiology team can complete the scan more efficiently.
Review Your MRI Appointment Instructions
The most important step the night before an MRI is to read the instructions from your doctor or imaging center. MRI preparation can vary depending on the type of scan.
Some patients can eat, drink, and take medicines as normal. Others may need to fast for a few hours, especially if the MRI involves the abdomen, pelvis, contrast dye, or sedation. Mayo Clinic notes that patients are usually allowed to eat normally and continue regular medicines unless told otherwise.
Check If You Need To Fast Before MRI
Many MRI scans do not require fasting. However, some MRI appointments may ask patients to avoid food or drinks for a set time before the scan.
Fasting before MRI is more common for abdominal MRI, pelvic MRI, MRI with contrast, or MRI with sedation. Some centers may ask patients to fast for a few hours before certain exams. UC Davis Health, for example, says abdomen and pelvis MRI patients may be asked to fast for 2 hours before the exam.
If your instructions are unclear, contact the imaging center before your appointment. Do not guess, especially if you have diabetes, kidney disease, or take daily medicines.
Take Regular Medicines Unless Told Otherwise
Most people can take their usual medicines before an MRI. This may include blood pressure medicine, thyroid medicine, heart medicine, or other daily prescriptions.
However, some patients need special instructions. If you take diabetes medicine, blood thinners, anxiety medicine, or kidney-related medicines, ask your doctor what to do before the MRI scan.
Never stop a prescription medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
Choose Metal-Free Clothing
The night before your MRI scan, choose loose and comfortable clothing without metal parts. Avoid zippers, hooks, metal buttons, belts, underwire bras, and clothing with metallic threads.
Good choices include plain sweatpants, a T-shirt, leggings without metal parts, or soft loose clothing. Even if the imaging center gives you a gown, wearing simple MRI-safe clothing can make the appointment easier.
Mayo Clinic lists items such as jewelry, watches, hairpins, eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, underwire bras, and cosmetics with metal particles as things patients may need to remove before MRI.
Remove Jewelry And Piercings
Remove jewelry the night before or before leaving home. This includes rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, anklets, and body piercings.
If a piercing is difficult to remove, call the imaging center before your scan. Some piercings may not be safe during MRI, depending on their material and location.
It is also best to leave valuable items at home. This reduces the risk of losing them during the appointment.
Avoid Makeup, Glitter, And Metallic Products
Some cosmetics and personal care products may contain tiny metal particles. These particles can interfere with MRI images or cause discomfort in rare cases.
Before your MRI scan, avoid metallic makeup, glitter, heavy powders, metallic nail polish, magnetic eyelashes, and hair products with shimmer. This is especially important for MRI scans of the head, face, neck, chest, or breast.
If possible, arrive with clean skin and minimal products.
Tell The Team About Implants Or Metal In Your Body
MRI safety screening is one of the most important parts of the appointment. Tell your doctor and MRI technologist if you have any implants, devices, or metal in your body.
This may include:
- Pacemaker or defibrillator
- Cochlear implant
- Aneurysm clip
- Surgical clips
- Stent
- Artificial joint
- Metal plate, screw, or rod
- Insulin pump
- Neurostimulator
- Shrapnel or bullet fragments
- Metal fragments in the eye
MRI magnetic fields can interact with some metallic objects or implanted devices. NCBI notes that MRI scanners may cause problems such as implant movement, tissue heating, imaging artifacts, or device malfunction in some cases.
Bring implant cards or device information if you have them. Some implants are MRI-safe, but the radiology team must confirm this before scanning.
Prepare For MRI With Contrast Dye
Some MRI scans use contrast dye, often gadolinium-based contrast, to help doctors see certain tissues, blood vessels, inflammation, tumors, or infections more clearly.
If your MRI with contrast is scheduled, tell your care team if you have kidney disease, previous contrast allergy, pregnancy, or breastfeeding concerns. Radiology Info explains that contrast materials may be used to improve image detail in certain radiology exams, including MRI.
The night before, follow all instructions about eating, drinking, and medication. Also bring recent kidney function test results if your doctor asked for them.
Plan For Claustrophobia Or Anxiety
Many people feel nervous before an MRI because the scanner can feel narrow and loud. If you have claustrophobia or anxiety, tell the imaging center before your appointment.
They may offer calming tips, music, headphones, an open MRI option, or medication if approved by your doctor. If you take a sedative, you may need someone to drive you home.
The night before, practice slow breathing and remind yourself that the MRI technologist can usually speak with you during the scan.
Get A Good Night’s Sleep
Try to sleep well before your MRI appointment. Being rested can help you stay calm and lie still during the scan.
MRI scans are painless, but the machine can make loud tapping, knocking, or buzzing sounds. Most centers provide earplugs or headphones to reduce noise.
Avoid reading frightening stories about MRI scans the night before. Focus on the practical steps your care team provided.
Drink Water Unless You Were Told To Limit Fluids
If your MRI instructions allow normal drinking, staying hydrated is usually fine. Hydration may be helpful, especially if contrast dye may be used.
However, if your doctor told you to fast or limit fluids, follow that advice. Patients with kidney disease, heart failure, or fluid restrictions should follow medical instructions carefully.
Prepare Your Documents
The night before your MRI, keep your important documents ready. This can help avoid delays at the imaging center.
Bring:
- Photo ID
- Insurance card
- Doctor’s referral
- Medication list
- Allergy information
- Previous MRI, CT, X-ray, or ultrasound reports
- Implant or device cards
- Lab reports, if requested
Previous imaging reports may help the radiologist compare old and new findings.
How Much Does An MRI Cost?
The cost of an MRI can vary widely based on the body part being scanned, the imaging center, your location, insurance coverage, and whether contrast dye is used. In the United States, MRI prices can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, and Good Rx reports that MRI costs may range from about $400 to $12,000 depending on these factors.
If you have insurance, your final MRI cost may depend on your deductible, copay, coinsurance, and whether the imaging center is in network. If you do not have insurance, ask the imaging center about self-pay pricing before the appointment. Some outpatient imaging centers may offer lower cash-pay rates than hospital-based imaging departments.
What To Avoid Before An MRI?
Before your MRI appointment, avoid bringing unnecessary metal or electronic items into the imaging area.
Avoid:
- Jewelry
- Watches
- Hairpins
- Belts
- Keys
- Coins
- Wallets
- Credit cards
- Phones
- Hearing aids
- Removable dentures
- Magnetic eyelashes
- Clothing with metal parts
The MRI staff will usually ask you to remove these items before entering the scan room.
What Happens During The MRI Scan?
During the MRI scan, you will lie on a table that slides into the scanner. You need to stay still so the images are clear.
The scan may take 15 to 45 minutes, but some MRI exams can take longer. If contrast dye is needed, it may be given through an IV.
You may hear loud knocking or tapping sounds during the scan. This is normal. The technologist will monitor you and may communicate with you between scan sequences.
When To Call The Imaging Center Before Your MRI?
Call the imaging center before your MRI if you:
- Are pregnant or may be pregnant
- Are breastfeeding
- Have kidney disease
- Have a pacemaker or implant
- Have metal fragments in your body
- Have had a metal injury near the eye
- Need sedation
- Have severe claustrophobia
- Are unsure about fasting instructions
- Cannot remove jewelry or piercings
It is always better to ask before the appointment than to arrive unprepared.
Night Before MRI Checklist
Use this simple MRI preparation checklist:
- Review appointment instructions
- Confirm fasting rules
- Take regular medicines unless told otherwise
- Choose metal-free clothing
- Remove jewelry and piercings if possible
- Avoid metallic makeup and glitter products
- Prepare ID, insurance card, and referral
- Bring previous scan reports
- Gather implant or device cards
- Plan transport if sedation is needed
- Get proper sleep
- Arrive on time
Conclusion
Knowing what to do the night before an MRI can make the appointment easier and less stressful. Most patients only need simple preparation, such as checking instructions, removing metal items, wearing comfortable clothing, and bringing the right documents.
Always follow the instructions from your doctor or imaging center. If you are unsure about fasting, medicines, contrast dye, implants, or anxiety support, call the center before your MRI scan.
FAQs
Most patients can eat normally before an MRI unless they are told to fast. Some abdominal, pelvic, contrast, or sedation MRI scans may require fasting.
Usually, yes. Water is often allowed before MRI, but follow your exact instructions if fasting or fluid limits were given.
Wear loose, comfortable, metal-free clothing. Avoid zippers, hooks, metal buttons, belts, underwire bras, and metallic fabric.
It is better to avoid makeup, glitter, metallic nail polish, and magnetic eyelashes, especially for head, face, breast, or neck MRI scans.
Most regular medicines can be taken unless your doctor says otherwise. Ask for specific advice if you have diabetes, kidney disease, or need sedation.
Yes, remove piercings if possible. If you cannot remove one, tell the imaging center before your appointment.
Tell the imaging center before the scan. They may offer headphones, music, breathing guidance, open MRI options, or doctor-approved anxiety medicine.
Usually, no. But if you receive sedation or anxiety medicine, you may need someone to drive you home.
MRI cost varies by location, scan type, contrast use, and insurance coverage. Ask your imaging center for the exact self-pay or insured estimate before your appointment.
References
- Mayo Clinic. “MRI.”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mri/about/pac-20384768 - UC Davis Health. “Preparing for Abdomen and Pelvis MRI.”
https://health.ucdavis.edu/radiology/mymri/mymri-body.html - NCBI Bookshelf. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contraindications.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551669/
