How to Prepare for an MRI: The Complete Checklist
A smooth MRI day is built the afternoon before: clothing, paperwork, medication questions, and an honest safety list — all in one place.
Prepare for an MRI by wearing metal-free clothing, removing all jewelry and piercings, eating and drinking normally unless told otherwise, bringing your implant and device documentation, and writing down every metal object, surgery, and tattoo in your history. Arrive with your medication list, prior imaging discs, and any papers your referrer gave you. Sedation, if planned, requires a driver. The checklist below walks every step.
The night before: paperwork and safety history
Gather the documents that end intake interviews: insurance card and ID, the order or referral, a full medication and supplement list, and implant cards for joints, clips, stents, pumps, and devices. Write your metal history in one place — surgeries, shrapnel, welder's work, eye injuries, and tattoos — because the safety questionnaire asks precisely these and memory blurs under fluorescent light. Pack the bag by the door.
The morning of: food, drink, and medications
Unless your team says otherwise, eat and drink normally — an empty stomach helps only specific abdominal exams and most MRIs prefer you comfortable. Take morning medications with small sips unless your instructions say otherwise. Skip caffeine if jitters are your enemy in the bore. Deodorant, lotions, and makeup are fine for most exams but skip them for breast imaging; metallic particles shadow pictures.
What to wear and what to leave home
Soft, metal-free clothing — drawstring pants, a T-shirt, a bra without underwire — lets many centers skip the gown entirely. Every ring, watch, hairpin, and earring stays home or in the locker; the magnet does not negotiate, and a stuck ring is a real, avoidable ending. Bring your own earplugs if you prefer them, and leave your phone's metal case behind.
Special situations worth a phone call first
Claustrophobia (request wide-bore or a rehearsal visit), kidney disease (shapes contrast decisions), diabetes on metformin (CT rules differ, MRI is gentler), pregnancy or possibility (mention it always), children (ask about desensitization visits), and any prior contrast reaction (documented, not just remembered). Thirty seconds on the booking line converts all of these from day-of scrambles into prepared plans.
MRI Preparation: quick planner
A one-minute check before your appointment.
Educational checklist. Your facility's written instructions always override a general checklist like this one.
Frequently asked questions about mRI Preparation
Can I eat before an MRI?
Yes, unless your specific exam instructions say otherwise.
Can I wear my own clothes in the MRI?
Often — if they are fully metal-free; confirm at booking.
Do I need to stop my medications?
Usually no; confirm anything unusual with the imaging team a day ahead.
Can I have an MRI with tattoos?
Most tattoos are fine; mention fresh or metallic-ink work during screening.
What if I have dental work?
Fillings and crowns stay; mention implants and retainers.
Do I need a driver?
Only if you plan sedation for claustrophobia.
How SATMED Health makes contrast imaging safer
If your exam includes contrast, the delivery equipment matters as much as the scanner. SATMED Health engineers the systems behind every injection.
Contrast injector systems built for controlled, consistent delivery — the right dose at the right moment, every time.
Learn more →Engineered syringes for smooth, low-pressure injections that reduce discomfort and protect the vessel at the IV site.
Learn more →Patient lines and accessories designed for safe, reliable contrast administration from injector to vein.
Learn more →Contrast management solutions that help departments prepare, verify, and track every dose before it reaches a patient.
Learn more →Keep reading
More free, clinician-reviewed guides from SATMED Health.
Sources
- RadiologyInfo.org (ACR · RSNA · ASRT). How to Prepare for Your MRI Exam. Reviewed June 15, 2026.
- RadiologyInfo.org (ACR · RSNA · ASRT). MRI Safety.
- American College of Radiology. ACR Accredited Facilities Database.
Keep learning, keep asking
Browse more free imaging guides or reach out with any question.
Contact SATMED HealthMedical disclaimer: This article is for education only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always follow the instructions of your imaging facility and your own physician. If you think you are having an emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
Please note: SATMED Health is not a medical facility. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist. To locate an accredited medical imaging provider in your community, search the ACR accredited facilities database. This website does not provide cost information; imaging costs vary by region.
