Pre-medicating for a dental procedure

[luvflorida]

DD15 is scheduled to have her wisdom teeth extracted on Friday. She is very nervous about the surgery, especially having the IV needle inserted. She will be receiving general anesthesia. Her oral surgeon has given us a prescription for medication that will relieve her anxiety and help her to relax right before the procedure.

I'm going to ask more questions at the pharmacy tomorrow when I get the prescription filled, but I was wondering if anone here has had any experience with the medication. It's called Halcion. The prescription is for one pill, and she is to take it one hour before the surgery.

I'm just not familiar with anyone taking something like this before surgery.

 

[Michie]

I wish I had known about this I have an appointment in the morn Let me know how it works for her!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I went through the same thing when I had my wisdom teeth removed. I was so nervous about the IV. The gave me nitrous oxide first and it did the trick.

 

[ToriLammy]

It's in the same family as valium, which is what I take before every dental appointment. It will make her relax. I normally fall asleep in the chair after the drilling is done. She should be fine.

 

[HeatherinNC]

I have a big old fear of dentists but really needed some work done. The dentist gave me two Halcion. One to take the night before and one to take one hour before my appointment. When I took the one at night, it didn't seem to relax me at all. I was so concerned that it didn't seem to work, i called the dentist office the next morning and told them I had zero confidence that taking the one before the appointment would do any good. They swore up and down I would be relaxed enough to have the procedure and of course, they were right. I was very relaxed, it worked wonders.

 

[PrincessPatty]

The Halcion was a miracle for me! I was so nervous and crying in the office, that they waited until the 2nd pill they gave me kicked in, I dont even remember the procedure, so it sure was good!

 

[luvflorida]

Has anyone taken the Halcion before general anesthesia?

 

[mudnuri]

Last week when i had 4 extractions- the oral surgeon gave me laffin gas first. This was the first time I've had that happen. Usually its the IV then you go out.

with the gas first- I didnt even realize he was putting the IV in...

sorry op no experience with that pill your speaking off, im suprised the IV is the part your DD is worried about lol...that was the easy part for me!

Good luck to her, and remember to ICE HER FACE!!!! If it says to ice for 12 hours- ice longer! The pain will go away quicker if its not swollen....I iced for 2 days off and on and had no swelling on either side. The last time I had 3 extractions, I iced for 12 hours and had chipmunk face from swelling!

Brandy

 

[Bearvet]

DS17 had his wisdom teeth out right after Christmas and was given the 1 valium pill to take 1 hour before the procedure. He did have general anesthesia - I'm not sure what your question is, but everything was fine. By the time they took him into the room, they had to help him walk - he was pretty zonked (and funny!). Don't worry about this at all - it seems to be a standard procedure now to give the Halcion 1 hour prior.

 

[sunlver]

Im glad I saw this post. In April I am having gum surgery, its a soft tissue graph surgery. Anyways, I have had other gum surgeries before but never taken the Valium they offered first(first time I was pregnant so couldnt, 2nd time I said no because the first time wasnt so bad).Well the lady who works there suggested I get the valium beforehand since I will be in the chair for likr 90 minutes. Ive never had a valium in my life, but am going to do it. I didnt realize how common it was to give the patient something before surgery.

 

[dadto1]

I got a pill to take the night before, one when I woke up and one hour before the procedure. My DW had to hold me back from falling out of the chair in the waiting room and I remember nothing after leaving the house to go to the oral surgeon. It was the best decision I ever made asking for them. I would have been a nervous wreck without them as I was having two wisdom teeth cut out and part of my jawbones filed down to be able to get the lower teeth out.

 

[HaleyB]

Halcion will block your memory of the event, as well. Plus if you can get her talking she will be very funny.

It is used pre-op all the time. So it is fine before general.

I have had it lots of times before surgeries. It works very well, calms you down before they put you under and blocks the memory latter so if you have to go back for another procedure you are not as worried about it.

 

[lsyorke]

HALCION!!! We used this drug years ago in the hospital and now DO NOT USE IT AT ALL. I didn't think that anyone was still prescribing this drug. It is know to cause psychotic reactions in some people. There are MUCH better drugs to calm a patient(especially a 15 year old) prior to a dental procedure. I would NEVER let my child take this one.

 

[lsyorke]

It's in the same family as valium,

While they are similar in chemical properties, their actions are completely different. Halcion was used for sleep, valium is used to calm.

This was an article on halcion from a while ago, that started the controversy over it and ultimately stopped the prescribing by most docs.


http://www.injustice.org/nemo/newsfile/nk910819.html

 

[dcentity2000]

The typical medication family used to combat anxiety is known as the Benzodiazepines, including drugs such as Lorazepam. They are addictive and should only be taken when needed on an infrequent basis. They're basically tranquilisers and can make you drowsy (buh).

More unusual medications used include the Barbiturates, but they're a bit more heavy weight. I don't expect that you'll be dealing with those.

There are other medications that can deal with anxiety such as the typical anti-psychotic Trifluoperazine (Stelazine); beta blockers can also be used, but again, I doubt you'd have to deal with these.



Rich::

 

[luvflorida]

I picked up the prescription yesterday for Halcion, but in the end I opted not to give it to my daughter. After researching it further and reading all the possible side effects of this drug, I just didn't feel comfortable giving it to her.

I think the oral surgeon was a little ticked that I didn't check with him first, but I knew it was not something she HAD to take. I always feel the less meds you can get away with, the better. Anyway, it all worked out fine in the end.