A few years back I went to the dentist to have some teeth filled. When I
was given novocaine it was mixed with something else, and the reaction for me
resulted in body tremors and increased heart rate.My dentist walked out of the
room, which lead me to believe that he wanted nothing to do with seeing the
reaction. I was then given nitrous oxide, and told that I shouldn't have any
reaction like with the first, but I had a reaction similiar to the first that
was equally as bad. The dentist advised the assistant to administer oxygen to
me, and once again he walked out of the room, and wouldn't come back.
     I talked to my Orthodontist about two weeks after at an appointment, and
he advised me that what I was given as anesthesia may have been in this
dentists opinion something to relax me, but in reality the combinations of
anesthesia could have caused me to have suffocated and die in the dentist
chair, and my family could have then filed a suit. My orthodontist told me that
the oxygen would not have been able to flush the evidence out of my {*filter*}
stream if I had died.
     I'm not exactly sure, but I talked not only to my orthodontist, but also
to a pharmacist, and they both said he had given me Epinephrine with the
Novocaine, and it could have caused death in minutes.
     Can you help with an answer about this please?

Dear Eigna20,

Sounds to me like you were petrified to be at the dental office and the
{*filter*} used may not have any bearing on your complaint at all.  (I say MAY
not).  Always tell someone when you are afraid so they can alter their
technique.  Dentsits do NOT mix any drug with their local anesthetic.  You
could have received another totally different drug, if they were trying to
sedate you, but your description does not fill that catagory.  Take it slow,
go see a dentist you can trust and let them know up front how scared you
are.  They will be able to handle much better than you think.

Dr. Steve

Are you on any heart medication?  Specifically a lopressor, "Beta Blocker".  In
any case you should talk to your family doctor about your reaction. Epinephrine
is used in combination with other anesthetics for a local anesthesia.  .  

I had a reaction similar to yours because I do take a lopressor and had an
immediate racing heart because of the sudden introduction to the {*filter*} stream
of epinephrine.  Because of that combination of {*filter*}, it could have been fatal
or a stroke.  I have had a heart attack and am particularly vulnerable.  It is
a most dangerous reaction. I thought I was going to die in the dentist chair
like you, and very well could have.

Definately check in with your family doctor, and follow up on this .  I am not
a dentist, doctor, nurse or aide, or any health professional. I am just
reporting what happened to me that was similar to what happened to you.  

Not likely...I think it was epinephrine like you say below.  If so,
epinephrine is used to keep the anesthetic (probably not novocaine since
it's hardly used today) from dissipating from the area.  It certainly does
not relax you!  If anything, it can cause nervousness and trembling.

Epinephrine can cause a racing heartbeat and extreme high {*filter*} pressure,
but not suffocation.  In fact, essential advanced cardiac life support {*filter*}
include oxygen, epinephrine, and lidocaine.  These things are used to SAVE
lives!

I'm sure he didn't give oxygen to flush away "evidence."

If you have a history of high {*filter*} pressure, heart arrhythmia, heart
attacks, or strokes, epinephrine can cause death--due to another stroke or a
fatal arrhythmia.  If you don't have a histroy of these, it can cause the
minor non-life-threatening feelings you experienced.

The feeling you experienced usually only occurs when the
lidocaine/epinephrine combo is injected right into a vein or artery.  This
can sometimes be prevented by aspirating (drawing back on the needle to see
if {*filter*} comes out) before injecting the fluid.  Sometimes, it can't be
prevented.  If you are afraid of this happening again, ask the dentist to
use an anesthetic without epinephrine in it.  Of course, he then may have to
give you several shots over the appointment since they don't last near as
long.

Ray

Very true of most 'beta-blockers.'  The newer 'selective beta-blockers' like
atenolol don't have this reaction.  In any case, epinephrine should be used
with caution on all patients that are on any beta-blocker.  Not only because
of a potential reaction, but because that patient likely has a history of
high {*filter*} pressure.

Ray