diazepam or valium for dental visits?

[transparant]

Anyone ever take this medication for a dental visit? I am SEVERLY dental-phobic and my dentist just gave me a prescription for valium for an appointment on Monday.

I have no idea what to expect after taking it. What should I expect?

 

[llazykllamas]

The best place to ask would be your dentist, or even the pharmacist!!!!!!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I didnt get something like this for a dentist appointment, but before i had a mole removed--my primary dr prescribed it because she knows how i am with needles--i dont know exactly what it was--but i took a pill 30 minutes before i got there and then again when i was there...
i remember everything that was goign on, but i just didnt care pretty much--I also felt very tired...

edited--my mom was there as they told me i had to have someone drive me

 

[kbkids]

I've had it before. Like said above, I was aware of what was going on, but just didn't care.

 

[rascalmom]

Effects from Valium will vary with the individual as well as the dosage amount. Did they instruct you to have someone to drive you to your appointment? Dh is a dentist & will sometime prescribe it for very apprehensive patients. General anesthesia is rarely needed for general dental procedures & not worth the risk to the patient. A combination of valium, nitrous oxide, relaxation techniques (you've had babies, right?) and a good, gentle dentist should get you through.

I've never had it for dental treatment, but I am very claustrophobic & I did have it before having an MRI a while back. It just relaxes you - I never felt groggy, high or out of control. Got me through my time in the tube & went home & had a nice nap.

 

[LeCras]

I've taken diazepam before dental appointments, for me the dosage varied with what I was having done. A root canal meant 30 mg (pretty much asleep the whole time) whereas a checkup was 10 mg. Yes, I used to be that bad - couldn't even go for checkups without major panic attacks!

As far as the effects, they will obviously depend on the dosage. In general, you will get drowsy or downright sleepy for a few hours. You will notice the first effects about 20-30 minutes from taking the tablet(s) and have the maximum effect after an hour or so. Once the sleepiness wears off I have sometimes felt "high", giggling at anything and everything... Not altogether unpleasant as far as sideeffects go, but it didn't happen every time.

Depending on the dosage your dentist may ask to to arrange for someone to pick up you and take you home after your appointment. If he/she does - listen. You will be in no fit state to drive. Heck, after 30 mg I had to be helped to bed, couldn't even take my own shoes off!

Hope that helps, I'll be happy to answer any other questions...

Charlotte

 

[missypie]

PLEASE (!!!) report back and let us know what you took and how it went. I hate to admit it but it has been almost three years since I've had my teeth cleaned. I hate going to the dentist so much. I brush/floss/water pik like crazy, but I know you shouldn't go that long between cleanings. I've even started having teeth cleaning nightmares. Next time I HAVE to take something for the stress.

I will tell you that when I had LASIK, I had whatever the "standard dose" of valium they give folks before the procedure...I only weigh 110 lbs and the amount of valium they gave me did not relax me at all. I REALLY needed more! (The procedure was not bad, but I get "adreneline drop" headaches, so once the procedure was over, I got a headache that took me three days to shake.)

Please let us all know how it goes.

 

[CheshireVal]

I'm going to the dentist today at 1.

 

[laura001]

Good luck with your appointment. Both my DH and co worker take something before seeing the dentist and it works well for both of them. They just go home and sleep it off when they are done, oh, and of course they don't drive themselves.

 

[Certifiable WDW Nut]

My dentist doesn't let me in the door unless I've 10mg of valium an hour before my appt. It doesn't matter what is being done. At my next appt for periodontal maintenance (basically a cleaning) I'm taking the valium and they are going to give me nitros oxide. I think the hygenist is tired of fighting me.

 

[jajuan]

My dentist only gives me 2mg of Diazepam before my appointment. They told me to have someone drive and I did. The next time I drove myself. It made me lay there and cry...I was so embarassed. I still have 3 more appointments left (I wouldn't go to the dentist for 10 years so I have a few crowns). I guess it did help a little...but maybe since I am seeing that everyone has about 10mg, I will sneak and take two. Good luck...I am sure all will be fine.

 

[MoniqueU]

I have used it to get me to the denist. It only helps me a little bit but it does give me the courage to get in the door. I am glad to hear I am not the only one to use nitrous to get their teeth cleaned.

 

[transparant]

Thanks everyone! I'll let you know how it goes. I'm seriously a HUGE chicken when it come's to the dentist.

I took my daughter on MOnday to this dentist and she needed a small cavity filled - the Dentist came out in the waiting room to discribe to me what he was going to do to her....I had to tell him to be quiet - I swear the room was starting to spin just listening about the procedure - let alone having it done on myself.

After that is when he prescribed the valium for my visit on Monday. He said he was going to use nitrous oxide as well. I just hope I don't act stupid! LOL!

 

[Buckalew11]

I've taken xanax and had nitrous. Even for a cleaning. I had to have my 2 front teeth's crowns removed and replced and I took 1mg for that--the most I have ever taken. Truly I was in lala land. They put something in between my back teeth just to keep my mouth open because there is no way I could have. I was relaxed and going to sleep but, darn it, they kept waking me up and asking me if I was "ok" LOL. I was OK but would have been better if they'd just let me sleep through the whole procedure! (I am glad they took good care of me)

Good luck. I would rather do anything besides visit the "d word".

 

[we3disneygo]

 

[Kitty 34]

I've taken xanax and had nitrous. Even for a cleaning. I had to have my 2 front teeth's crowns removed and replced and I took 1mg for that--the most I have ever taken. Truly I was in lala land. They put something in between my back teeth just to keep my mouth open because there is no way I could have. I was relaxed and going to sleep but, darn it, they kept waking me up and asking me if I was "ok" LOL. I was OK but would have been better if they'd just let me sleep through the whole procedure! (I am glad they took good care of me)

Good luck. I would rather do anything besides visit the "d word".

I wanna go to your dentist!!!

Can you ask any dentist for these "calming" procedures or do only some offer it? I would probably get my one front tooth fixed finally if I could be in la la land.

 

[Kama89]

Dental trips... I am a serious dental weenie! The phobia just seemed to develop in the last few years. Weird. I used to think I was pretty tough stuff when it came time to visit the dreaded chair. A couple of years ago, I started flipping out. We began with just doing the nitrus thing. That worked for the first few visits until one day when I decided, while under the influence, that he was telling me he'd discovered I had a fatal disease and could expect to drop dead any moment. Okay that was strange. Soooo then we added 10 mg of valium and the nitrus. That worked. Once. We're up to 20 mg. valium and a healthy dose of gas. He could now tell me virtually anything and I seriously doubt I'd do anything but smile like an idiot.

 

[Buckalew11]

Kitty, I think he would have offered it to me but I had already gotten it from my GP. I told him I had to go to the "d-word" and was scared to death.

Then, my first visit to this new "d-word" was just to talk. He asked me just how scared I was. I said, "Well, I had to take 1/2MG of xanax just to come here and TALK to you."
I think he knew how serious I was at that moment.

He did end up getting me in the chair to do a set of impressions. Now, impressions are about the worst thing I can think of. Such torture that I think it could be used by our government if we were going to torture our enemies.
Thank God I had the xanax in me that day. I am sure I would have died during the impressions otherwise.

 

[Tiggeroo]

is anybody on here from the Nj area. I am desperately seeking a dentist who will give me valium and nitrous and not make me feel like a baby for wanting them. I will drive if I have to.

 

[Kitty 34]

Kitty, I think he would have offered it to me but I had already gotten it from my GP. I told him I had to go to the "d-word" and was scared to death.

Then, my first visit to this new "d-word" was just to talk. He asked me just how scared I was. I said, "Well, I had to take 1/2MG of xanax just to come here and TALK to you."
I think he knew how serious I was at that moment.

He did end up getting me in the chair to do a set of impressions. Now, impressions are about the worst thing I can think of. Such torture that I think it could be used by our government if we were going to torture our enemies.
Thank God I had the xanax in me that day. I am sure I would have died during the impressions otherwise.

Brenda, you're hilarius!!

I have some valium they gave me when my back went out. Maybe I should try one before my next teeth cleaning. Isn't xanax like valium?