CT Head

Planning ahead:

• You may need to have blood drawn before this exam.
• If you are allergic to the iodine contrast used in the CT scan, your physician must provide you with medication for this, which you will usually take 24 hours ahead of time. Your physician may call our department and speak to a radiologist with any questions about this.
• If you are allergic to the contrast and arrive for your exam without having taken the medication, we will likely have to reschedule your CT for another day.
• If you are to receive IV contrast for this exam (check with your doctor), do not eat, drink, or smoke anything at all for two hours before the exam. You may take any regular medications with a sip of water. (If you know you’re not to receive IV contrast, it is OK to eat and drink beforehand.)
• Arrive at the hospital one hour before your CT is scheduled. Ask the scheduler what time that is.

Bring to the hospital when you come for your exam:

• Complete list of medications you are currently taking – name and dosage of each medication, and when you take it. 
• Written physician’s order for the test. If your provider is a Mon Health provider, your order will be sent electronically.

On the day of the exam:

• Do not wear hairpins or any metallic objects in the hair. Do not wear a hearing aid during the exam.

• Come in through the main entrance of Mon Health Medical Center and to the Radiology Services registration desk, down the hallway to the right.
• Plan to be at the hospital for approximately one and a half hours.

Before the exam:

• If you are having IV contrast, you will have an IV started. You may also have blood drawn, if necessary, before imaging.

After the exam:

• If you received IV contrast, do not take any drug containing metformin for 48 hours after the IV contrast injection.

If you have any questions or concerns, call the Mon Health CT Department at (304) 598-1280.