We discourage self medication as it makes sedation complicated. If someone took oral sedation, then is still needing sedation, we don't know if their medication hasn't worked, or is still coming on. We use IV sedation, its controllable, easily reversible, easy to top up. Getting an OD under control when they are still absorbing from their gut is not easy. We like to think we learn from experience!
The availability of sedation is often 'under advertised'. More doctors need to advise that 'yes you need an MRI, don't worry, if its freaking you out too much, you can get sedation and it will be like a 60 minute nap'
We don't advertise it but do screen people for claustrophobia instead. The doses we give of midazolam are usually small, but we have had respiratory arrests and significant cardiac events. It isn't something we like to give often. Between our 3 scanners it would be a dose per day.
