Have you ever tried a placebo on your child? UPDATE

[dejr_8]

My son has issues with the Dentist. We asked the dentist to prescribe Valium for him but he won't because my son is only 10. He suggests laughing gas but that is $50 and is not covered by our insurance.

So we are going to try a placebo and see if it works.

Have you ever tried a placebo on your kids?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have an anxiety kid and never in a million yrs would I do that (her issue is medical procedures). If it does not work you are going to have a bigger problem.

Can't you pay the 50 out of pocket? That is what I would do.

Or you can see your reg. doctor and get something prescribed by them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

No, but you know what a placebo is, right? It's a sugar pill, or other 'medication' with no actual medication in it. Do you think your son is susceptible to suggestion, that if you tell him it's a tranquilizer or something to make the dentist not be scary, he will believe and behave accordingly?

I'm NOT criticizing, I'm just asking.

 

[okeydokey]

I think it's worth a shot. If he thinks it will help, it just may and is less harmful then the real stuff.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What are his issues with the dentist & how old is he? That might help. I mean is he screaming and throwing a fit, throwing up, or what?

It would depend on his level of anxiety to be honest.

We got thru alot of blood draws with visualization techniques with dd.

 

[dejr_8]

No, but you know what a placebo is, right? It's a sugar pill, or other 'medication' with no actual medication in it. Do you think your son is susceptible to suggestion, that if you tell him it's a tranquilizer or something to make the dentist not be scary, he will believe and behave accordingly?

I'm NOT criticizing, I'm just asking.

I am a very strong believer in the placebo effect. So we are hoping that if we tell my son the medicine will help him stay calm he will.

 

[HM]

My first child needed a little something at his early dental appts starting age 3. The dentist did prescribe something to make him easier that he took about an hour before we arrived. My son had an aversion to having someone in his mouth and it made it easier for the hygenist and dentist to work on him. I wonder that your dentist won't do so? My second child didn't need anything.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

For something like a dentist office, that is stressful for him and is KNOWN to cause problems for him.......no, I wouldn't do it.

For a "my little toe hurts and I don't want to go to school today because of it", then yes.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am a very strong believer in the placebo effect. So we are hoping that if we tell my son the medicine will help him stay calm he will.

It sounds like his anxiety is not that bad if all you are needing from him is to remain calm.

Try visualization along with the "placebo". This has worked for my dd rather well.

She visualizes her dog's face which always makes her happy and calm.

 

[C.Ann]

How will you - and your son - feel if it "doesn't" work? That's a question I would ponder seriously before I made a decision..

As a child I was terrifed of the dentist (still am to this day) and unfortunately, back then there weren't any of the options that are available today.. If there had been, my parents would have given whatever option was available at the drop of a hat in order to prevent the lifelong trauma I've suffered with all my life that began at the dentists office..

I've had numerous surgeries on my body; numerous blood transfusions; IV's and needles galore - and nothing has ever frightened me as much as a trip to the dentist..

I don't know how anxious your child is, but if a child of mine was as anxious as I was, I would never resort to trickery..

Good luck with whatever you decide to do..

 

[minkydog]

I am a 52yo woman who has anxiety regarding dental treatment. I will vomit in the parking lot before I go in. Thankfully, there's Xanax. And nitrous oxide. and music. and blankies.

My youngest son is mentally ********. There is no explaining to him what's happening. He is incapable of keeping himself calm in that situation. He will not keep the nitrous mask on his face. So we give him 1/2 a Xanax with the dentists blessing. It has made all the difference. Now his visits are mild and a lot quicker than before when we would literally have to throw our body over his torso just to clean the poor boy's teeth.

I would never ever allow my anxious child to undergo a procedure he was afraid of without the help of whatever would help, including medication. Fifty dollars would be a small price to pay to keep my child's anxiety at bay. If I had had the benefit of medication when I was little I might not have the overwhelming dental phobia I have today.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Okay I just re-read and I misread, your DS is anxious. But it may stem from pain, so my post may or may not be helpful. Good Luck!

I won't allow my kids to have laughing gas, so they got novacaine....

Son's 1st cavity was small and the dentist performed it without anything. Small enough to cause a little discomfort, but no real pain. But enough to open my sons eyes to good oral hygiene.

When he needed his tooth pulled we went with novacaine.. Needless to say Novacaine does not set in for DS for around 2 hours, so he wasnt numb until after the tooth was out. We apologized left and right, he got a great prize afterwards and now we go in early get the novacaine shots and go back when he tells us it is numb.

I would not use a placebo, pain is pain.

 

[krcit]

I get nervous before the dentist-the more I think about it, the worse I get. If I was given a placebo and believed it would calm me down, I bet it would, lol. Now granted, I'm not so nervous that I'm close to an anxiety attack, just a bit worked up. I say try it, you have nothing to lose. Just be prepared that if he is a wreck, you'll have to get the gas or reschedule.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

Many dentists who work with children have learned hypnosis. It works very well with children who are anxious. I'd check around for a dentist who uses it in their practice, or maybe make an appointment with a hypnotist if it's a big issue with your child. It would last a lifetime and make the child's dental appointments far more pleasant. Much better than drugging a kid, IMO, and the techniques learned will work in any stressful situation.

 

[Gina]

How will you - and your son - feel if it "doesn't" work? That's a question I would ponder seriously before I made a decision..

As a child I was terrifed of the dentist (still am to this day) and unfortunately, back then there weren't any of the options that are available today.. If there had been, my parents would have given whatever option was available at the drop of a hat in order to prevent the lifelong trauma I've suffered with all my life that began at the dentists office..

I've had numerous surgeries on my body; numerous blood transfusions; IV's and needles galore - and nothing has ever frightened me as much as a trip to the dentist..

I don't know how anxious your child is, but if a child of mine was as anxious as I was, I would never resort to trickery..

Good luck with whatever you decide to do..

I didn't want to snip any of this, because I agree with every word. I would sell my blood to come up with $50 to pay for nitrous OOP for my son, rather than have him grow up with the anxiety and pain issues that now come from me even thinking about a dentist. Just reading this thread is hard enough. All they had when I was little was novacaine, and you still have to get through the trauma of the needle to get to that point. *shudder*

First cavity DS had to have filled, when he was about 10, he had nitrous and then novacaine, with numbing medicine before the novacaine, and he came away with no anxiety at all. Even marveled at how he didn't feel anything. Our dental insurance didn't cover the nitrous either, but I was glad to pay it, and glad I did.

 

[Kath2003]

Go for it.

At best, it helps.

At worst, it doesn't and you're in no different a situation.

 

[dejr_8]

It worked!

My boy stayed calm throughout the x-rays and cleaning. In the past, they have scheduled 45 mins for him because he is such a nightmare. This time he was done in 30 mins.

 

[okeydokey]

It worked!

My boy stayed calm throughout the x-rays and cleaning. In the past, they have scheduled 45 mins for him because he is such a nightmare. This time he was done in 30 mins.

So glad to hear that!!

 

[Jennasis]

What did you actually give him? Aspirin? M&M? Just curious.

 

[dejr_8]

What did you actually give him? Aspirin? M&M? Just curious.

My wife works in a pharmacy so she just put bubble gum flavoring liquid in a prescription bottle with a label that had my son's name on it.

We just returned from the dentist (today was for two cavities with nitrous oxide sedation) and before we went I asked him he wanted some of his medicine. He said yes.