HELP - ANXIETY WITH NOVACAINE SHOTS @ DENTIST (EPINEPHRINE)

shilohclaire · Post by **shilohclaire** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:30 pm

I have a true dilemma, and need some help from people who have anxiety like me. I have been having some dental work done lately, and noticed last weekend, after MANY novacaine injections that I was having waves of panicky feelings, heart palpitations, shaking hands, hot flashes, etc. It seemed to come on only after each novacaine injection.

I went home and googled this because it just wasn't sitting with me. I found that novacaine has epinephrine (adrenaline!!) in it, and can cause all of these anxiety-like symptoms. I don't know about you guys, but I personally am not one that would normally sign up to feel even more anxiety than I feel on a regular basis.

I still need to have more dental work done, but am now scared! I even took 0.5mg of Klonopin before I went to the dentist the other day. I talked to my dentist yesterday and he acknowledged this adrenaline issue, but said that not having that ingredient in the novacaine would make the numbing wear off in 5 minutes or so.

What would any of you do? I'm brave, and Lord knows, we're all so strong to go through this, but I really am freaked out now. I don't drink caffeine at all, don't take cold or allergy meds due to epinephrine either. My doctor talked to me like I'm nuts, and now I'm feeling so terrible.

Help, please!

Scottiesgrl · Post by **Scottiesgrl** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:03 pm

I know exactly how you feel! I have dental work that needs to be done and refuse to go get it done cause of the way that the Novacaine makes me feel!! I hate it! I also feel like I can't breathe(sp?) when my mouth is numb, freaks me out! I can't do it! I say the next time that I have to go to the dentist that I will have to be put to sleep and just have everything done at once. You are not alone in feeling this way, and your not nuts either! Geez, I hate the Dentist! Hope that things work out for you and you are able to go back and get it done!

Jane W. · Post by **Jane W.** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:15 pm

You were smart to google the novocaine. I dread those shots. They seem like they take forever to administer. And yes, the adrenaline component can cause terrible panic. You mentioned Klonopin. It's a good drug, but for dental work - I bring out the "big guns" and hit it with 0.5 dose of Xanax. I hate to advocate a pill for this situation - but it is the only thing that allows me to get my teeth worked on. Klonopin doesn't seem to quiet the anxiety enough for me. Try to be as cooperative as possible with the dentist and assistants. Also, tell yourself repeatedly that it is only temporary and pretty soon it will be a memory. You can get through it. And . . . if your Dr. continues to treat you in a less than respectful way - find a new one. Good luck. I know you can do it. I did. And I'm the biggest wimp in the world.

~Kathy~ · Post by **~Kathy~** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:18 am

My doctor talked to me like I'm nuts, and now I'm feeling so terrible.

Claire,

Get a new dentist. There's no excuse for someone talking down to you about a common disorder like anxiety. Your dentist's behavior is unacceptable and I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I'm very upfront with my dentist about my anxiety and he knows to take it slow, will give me a break if I need it, etc. Same with my hygenist.

There is also a new product on the market, it's an injectionless novocaine. It might not work for you or the type of work you're having done. I had it at my cleaning and it was great but it wouldn't have been enough numbing if I had to have something major done. Like for my gum surgery, I had to have the real novocaine. The gel is a little squirt tube and it just numbs a smaller area. Ask your new dentist about it.

shilohclaire · Post by **shilohclaire** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:13 pm

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your kindness!

Ironically I had to go to the dentist this morning due to MAJOR pain I've been having since my procedure last weekend. It ends up there is a 1% chance of the Novacaine causing a rare skin lesion at the injection sites...guess who is that 1%??!! Ugh, the fun we have in life, huh??

Anyway, I felt pretty nervous even having the dentist just look in my mouth at the sores today. Being there is now a scary place for me, unfortunately. We talked a bit more about the epinephrine, but he said that there's no other way to do the dental work (a cap is being put on a chipped tooth that was 80% removed & cavity fillings) without thet novacaine. He said that I could go to a specialist and be put under, but then I'd be out of commission for at least 2 days like after surgery. I don't have time for that!

So, I'm assuming we're all on here b/c we have anxiety issues - what would any of you do? He said that I need to suck it up and proceed forward with the novacaine injections. I'm so scared. Why would I want to sign myself up for something that will cause the "bad feelings??"

cfe · Post by **cfe** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:48 pm

I believe the Great Physition, is in charge of medication, I don't think any one has the knowledge to come up with this stuff all on their own, without God's help. All things in moderation is in the Book, and everything on the earth is put here to help us. I used liquid Lidicane for Migrains, after years of pain killing pills and shots that quit workin. You don't need to be afriad of messing up God's plan by using medication when NEEDED, it isn't any diffrent that over dosing on food, if eaten when needed, for fuel, it won't go to your waiste, Take the Zanex, or what ever you have to conteract the epenepheren when you go back you have an imbalance problem, and a dental problem, don't make it worse by ignoring it. I am sorry your Dr. isn't simpathetic with your anxiety, allot of people do not have it and do not understand it, I don't understand alot of peoples, problems, He should be respectfull of you any way he dosn't need to understand to treat you decent, I would find a Dentist that treated me kinder. But if you need the dental worke, you need to find one soon, before the problem with your tooth gets worse. I truly do not trust incensative Dr's but I find most specialists particularly surgens, have no bed side maner. Don't be affraid to use medicen, as needed it's no diffrent than a crutch, if your leg was broken, you would use a cruch untill it was strong enough to work normaly. your broken emotions are really no diffrent. God Bless your mess

Faith_TX · Post by **Faith_TX** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:13 pm

I don't take Xanax regularly but my dentist knew that I had anxiety before major work and so he prescribed Valium for me. Just enough to get through the appointment. I had to make sure someone drove me to and from but it was worth it.

Something to consider!

~Kathy~ · Post by **~Kathy~** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:58 pm

"Suck it up"? Oh jeez that makes me mad! It's like telling someone in a coma to "just wake up".

I had to go to the dentist and I did discuss it with my shrink ahead of time. I said, "How close to unconscious can you make me with medication?" He laughed and gave me a few Valium to get me through the appointments. There are other medications out there that work on the adrenal response, like Propranolol (Inderol). Again, something you might want to talk to your shrink about.

I wish you the best of luck,
Kathy

cilla777 · Post by **cilla777** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:15 pm

I also have had the same experience with Epinephrine at the dentists. They do not use novacaine any longer and haven't in a long time. They switched to epinephrine because during certain dental work the patient bleeds less with the epinephrine. But your in luck, as an alternative dentists also have marcaine and carbacaine that they can use on you that will not give you that anxious feeling just talk to your dentists when you go back and they will use the ones without the epi in it. I have use the other two and had no anxious reactions. Hope this helps.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:12 pm

hey there shiloh, your dentist is mean. you are paying him to treat you. he does not deserve your business. if you have dental ins. then go with the sleep. IT DOES NOT TAKE 2 DAYS TO RECOOP. i won't tolerate any docter that has a bad atitude about anxiety. my daughter is so afraid of dentists. but he gives her a pill before he even does a cleaning. i don't know what it is but it works. your dentist just don't want to take the time to be nice. you will find a way around that. ask your shrink or family doc to recommed one for you.

anita