[notz]

I'm on a cocktail of Lamictal, Lexapro, Zyprexa and Lithium. I was at the dentist yesterday to begin a crown. He had no sooner started with the Novocaine and I started breathing fast and deeply like I couldn't get enough oxygen. My arms and hands shook like crazy and I could feel the blood pumping into my head. It scared the hell out of me.

I let him know what was going on and he said it was a common anxiety reaction. I told him about my drugs and he said he felt it was just anxiety, just to tell my pdoc about it next time I see her. Ok, no kidding, you bet I'll tell her!

I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced any unusual reactions where you suspect your medications played a role?

OMG
I was at the dentist today too!
When I went for my check up 2 weeks ago I started having the same symptoms you are describing, so I took a xanax. It sounds like you were having kind of a panic attack.

Today, I took a xanax about 15 minutes before I got to the dentist to get my cavities filled - I was still stressed and nervous and jumpy- my dentist told me almost nobody is calm when they sit in her chair...she said everybody hates the dentist and gets nervous and even panicky, even when they don't have BP or Anxiety (what I have).

So it may not be your meds - it may just be a semi normal reaction to an extremely stressful situation - personally, I hate the dentist and didn't go for over 2 years...now i'm paying for it with 6 cavities

[sundog]

I'm sorry you had that reaction at the dentist ((((((((notz)))))))) I can relate since I have a lot of anxiety at the dentist, regardless of any medication I'm taking. I just feel very claustrophobic "trapped" in the dentist's chair and I have unpleasant physical sensations of anxiety similar to the ones you describe.

But it sounds as though you don't usually have this experience at the dentist and that it's something new for you since you started on your current med combo??

The other thing I wanted to say is that lidocaine (or novocaine) contains epinephrine (adrenaline) and this really does cause the heart to speed up. So it's not "just anxiety", epinephrine really does produce physiological changes in the body. In fact, there are many people who cannot tolerate lidocaine at all and have to have a different kind of anesthetic. So that is definitely something you could ask your dentist about.

I hope your pdoc can shed some light on this also in case there is some reaction with your meds going on too.

[notz]

Thanks for responding jadedmoonbeam and Sundog! I appreciate your thoughts and experiences. As a recovering alcoholic, I can't take xanax. Pdoc calls it "liquid alcohol". She's also a certified addictionologist, so she knows best. That's true for most any sedative for me.

And Sundog, you are right...I don't usually have a reaction like I did yesterday. For good or bad, I'm extremely stoic so for me to have any reaction is rare.

Also, thanks for the info about epinephrine, I did not know that. That definitely could have been it, or at least a precipitating factor.

Thanks, my friends!

Sorry Notz, I didn't realize you were in recovery. Xanax can be very addictive.

I didn't know about the epinephine in novocaine either Sundog - good info.

Maybe some relaxation/deep breathing exercises while you're in the chair - I was trying really hard to do them today....I have 3 more cavities to get filled so i'll be going back in a few weeks.

[googley]

(((((((((((Notz))))))))))))

I'm sorry that happened. I don't have any insight, but wanted to say that I also hate the dentist.

[online user]

I was having heart palpitations before I added some meds to my daily list--felt like a pounding of the heart as you described. I think probably could have been an anxiety attack, but perhaps brought on by the dentist's additions to your meds? Hope pdoc can clarify for you. I think the suggestion to try relaxation techiniques might help. If you are having a crown, you WILL need something for pain!