[Pixie1]

I am NOT afraid of dentists. Ok, when I had to have my wisdom tooth removed I was a basket case. But other than that, cleanings, fillings & checkups I am totally fine. But today out of NOWHERE I have a full blown panic attack while i’m having a filling done. I am SO embarrassed 😫. Not sure why this happened to me & it’s bothering me so much. I had panic attacks almost daily this summer because I came off celexa but as soon as I got back on it they stopped and now today 😫

Hi Pixie. I have heard that novocaine has something in it that also raises our adrenaline level. This is to speed up the numbing process by getting our blood moving faster (or something like that). My mother and I are both very sensitive to it, and while we don't get full panic attacks, we both deal with heightened anxiety during dentist visits, even though we aren't afraid of them either.

This could be a very likely reason you had a panic attack during the filling. Of course, panic attacks are perfectly capable of coming out of nowhere too, which is always fun.

[Pixie1]

Originally Posted by Bjørnen

Hi Pixie. I have heard that novocaine has something in it that also raises our adrenaline level. This is to speed up the numbing process by getting our blood moving faster (or something like that). My mother and I are both very sensitive to it, and while we don't get full panic attacks, we both deal with heightened anxiety during dentist visits, even though we aren't afraid of them either.

This could be a very likely reason you had a panic attack during the filling. Of course, panic attacks are perfectly capable of coming out of nowhere too, which is always fun.

Never thought of that! Thanks!!

[Gus1234U]

i was so bad at the dentist's that i had to train her to revive me~ ~by putting cake frosting, from a little tube, under my tongue.... fortunately for me, she specialized in traumatized children~

when i had my lower wisdom teeth out, i turned so white and pale, i scared the dentist~!! LOLOL

then one time i was getting a tooth capped, and the novacaine wasn't working, and it was getting later and later, so i told the dentist to just go ahead,,, and i never had any trouble after that..... there's just nothing as strange as life~~

[Sunflower123]

I’m sorry you had this experience. Perfectly understandable. Nothing to be embarrassed about it. Best wishes.

[yakmom]

So sorry that happened to you. The 2nd one I ever had was in my pulmonologist's office. He had no patience at all. Haven't seen him in 5 years or so.

[AbladeintheMeadow]

Hey I just wanted to let you know that the adrenaline in the anasthetic affects me too. It makes my heart race which is also what happens to me in a panic attack. As a result I had panic attacks at the dentist too until I found out about the adrenaline. Since then & having explained it to my dentist they now make a point of administering it more slowly so that my body doesn't get such a rapid, unexpected hit. I've found that between that & me being prepared for it mentally, while it still makes my heart race it doesn't descend into a panic attack.