<p>Anyone else have trouble with the drugs administered during dental procedures? I can have lidocaine, but not lidocaine with epinephrine as it includes a potassium sulfite to scavenge and remove any oxygen from the vial. (anyone with asthma should also stay away from sulfites in foods/drugs). This morning my dentist stared at me like I was a nut case and I refuse to believe that I am alone in this journey…</p>
<p>Try nitrous. It’s fun. My mom had a complete 'caine prohibition and had to be put under because she refused nitrous. </p>
<p>Nitrous is not covered by our insurance and can be a problem for those of us with breathing problems (they had a hard time reviving me and decided they will never again use it on me, though D–who has asthma–loves it as she is needle phobic).</p>
<p>I have never had problems using any lidocaine or novacaine when having dental procedures, tho I admit lately I’ve asked not to have anything when possible. I am asthmatic and allergic to sulfites but have not had anything with sulfites administered to me by a dentist or other healthcare professional as my chart indicates my sulfite allergy. I do recall an anesthesiologist being very upset before one of my outpatient procedures that nearly everything on the tray he was to use with me had sulfites–he called and yelled at the head of the hospital (it was upsetting to me to hear just before I went under).</p>
<p>Novacaine doesn’t work for my kid. Fortunately, she has good teeth, and the dentist has been able to do the tiny fillings that she’s needed without anesthesia. </p>
<p>Find out if that would be an option in your case.</p>
<p>My best friend is deathly allergrc to the “caine” family. Blows up like a puffer fish. She had a root canal with some alternative anesthetic and it did not work well. I told her next time to go to one of the sedation dentists that will knock her out. I think it would be worth it in her case.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments. Swimcatsmom - I didn’t even know there was a “knock out” dental option. I have learned that the “caines” are divided into 2 categories and many folks can only tolerate one or the other. I will mess this up, but I think they are categorized as amides and esters. I just talked with a Netherlands native and he said over there, many dentists pack a certain type of Dutch cheese around the tooth to numb the area…I shall have to google that one!</p>
<p>“This morning my dentist stared at me like I was a nut case and I refuse to believe that I am alone in this journey…”</p>
<p>You are not at all alone. I can’t tolerate the epinephrine either (causes rapid heartbeat and extreme nervousness) and have to have what the dental assistant calls lidocaine “plain” administered. The downside is that the numbing effects don’t last as long so the dentist has to work fast and efficiently–otherwise the shot(s) have to be re-administered. My Mom couldn’t tolerate the epinephrine either and we discovered this about each other later in life. </p>
<p>Huh, I’ve never liked epinephrine, it never occurred to me it was part of any concoctions at the dentist. I always assumed I wasn’t relaxed because of the whiny noises and having to keep my mouth open forever and feeling like I’m going to gag half the time. </p>
<p>Do you have red hair, by any chance? There’s a connection between red hair and weird reactions to novocaine. Really. <a href=“The Pain of Being a Redhead - The New York Times”>The Pain of Being a Redhead - The New York Times;
<p>Having discovered the joys of dental work done with Haldol on board (along with novocaine, which I am somewhat insensitive to), I no longer fear the dentist. You do need someone to drive you home afterwards if you take the Haldol, but then when you get home, the nap is delightful and restful. (Had a root canal done and a wisdom tooth removed that way.)</p>
<p>My red hair is fake, but my grandfather had a big red mustache. Mine was reddish when I was young, but got darker. I’ve got typical redhead coloring freckles and pale skin.</p>
<p>Many years ago, I had to have some dental work while I was breastfeeding, and apparently breastfeeding is a contraindication to the use of the anesthetic with epinephrine. They used an anesthetic without it, but it was much less effective.</p>
<p>I have to have the lidocaine straight up too - not epinephrine cocktail. It makes me shake uncontrollably. I had a root canal and my doctor had to give me extra lidocaine during the procedure because it started wearing off. </p>
<p>I just returned from my dental procedure. I was happy (and surprised) that the dentist had called my allergist and pharmacist - both at Mayo. The consensus what that I stay in the amide family, stay away from epi and from preservatives and only take 1/2 a dose. I survived, but must say that I was right on the edge of flirting with pain. At least I know the Carbocaine 3% worked for me so if I have increase the dose I will feel less concerned. Not sure what i will do when the time comes for the bone graft and implant as I believe the epi lengthens the duration of the drug. Baby steps…</p>
<p>I do not have red hair. I have a sister and and aunt who are red heads, so there must be a recessive gene floating around.</p>
<p>I used to experience rapid heart beat and nervousness with epinephrine/Novocain and was trying to go without it, but later on after switching dentist I found out that if experienced dentist administers it the right way, releasing the drug very slowly, I have no reaction what so ever. So there is hope.</p>