Imago
Member
Reged: 01/12/02
Posts: 152
Loc: Lone Star State
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My 18 year old daughter is having some dental work done. There's no oral surgery involved, nothing invasive...it's just that as she's gotten older, she's developed this huge fear of going to the dentist. He's agreed for her to be sedated since this will be a somewhat long procedure and called in a prescription to our pharmacy. The medication is triazolam (Halcion) and his instructions to me were for her to take one tab an hour before the procedure (but on the bottle it says 20 minutes. Which is it???). Then she is to bring the script with her in case he wants to sedate her further.
I've never heard of using triazolam for something like this. I thought it was a sleep aid? I looked in my PDR and it's not indicated for anything other than as a sleep aid.
My daughter has never taken any kind of tranquilizer or sedative. I guess I'm a little anxious about it. I know nothing about triazolam. Can someone who's taken this medication give me some info on it?
TIA
Imago
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Lablady2
Member
Reged: 05/05/04
Posts: 186
Loc: New York City
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I think I would look for another dentist. I can understand prescribing one of the benzodiazapam family - valium, xanax, etc - but NOT Halcion - it is my understanding that it is more of an anti-psychotic medication than an anti-anxiety one. I would call this guy and ask him why he is not prescribing something that would releave ANXIETY? My degree is in Biology not Pharmacology - but I would thoroughly question this dentist and the pharmacist before I would let anyone pop a Halcion........
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gandalf431
Stranger
Reged: 04/15/04
Posts: 9
Loc: Tennessee
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Quote:
My 18 year old daughter is having some dental work done. There's no oral surgery involved, nothing invasive...it's just that as she's gotten older, she's developed this huge fear of going to the dentist. He's agreed for her to be sedated since this will be a somewhat long procedure and called in a prescription to our pharmacy. The medication is triazolam (Halcion) and his instructions to me were for her to take one tab an hour before the procedure (but on the bottle it says 20 minutes. Which is it???). Then she is to bring the script with her in case he wants to sedate her further.
I've never heard of using triazolam for something like this. I thought it was a sleep aid? I looked in my PDR and it's not indicated for anything other than as a sleep aid.
My daughter has never taken any kind of tranquilizer or sedative. I guess I'm a little anxious about it. I know nothing about triazolam. Can someone who's taken this medication give me some info on it?
TIA
Imago
Actually this is a relatively new area called sedation dentistry.. I also suffer from this dental phobia and I checked around for this service. Yes it is legit, and yes halcion is what my dentist used.
http://dentistry.about.com/od/anesthesia/a/sedation_RO.htm
http://www.dentalfind.com/Sedation_Dentistry/
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I am Gandalf the White, but black is mightier still.....
Edited by gandalf431 (12/06/04 05:55 PM)
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wren
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/01/02
Posts: 284
Loc: up north & homesick for the di...
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Yep,it is legit, chances are he is probably more up on the newer advances of dental phobias.I have been looking into it alot myself as I also have extreme dental phobias,and this would probably put her into more of a twilight like sleep than valium,and also she would probably not remember much of the procedure,or the time involved.As one whoknows first hand,I have been prescribed valium and xanax for pre-sedation and the problem is my adrenaline is pumping so hard,that the sedation can't even work.
I believe alot of the sedation dentist"who cater to cowards",are using this along with the luxury of being put totally under and having full mouth restoration in one shot,if you can afford it!!!If I won the Lottery it is the first thing I would do!! Fly to LA let them ut me in the hospital for a day and wake up with all my dental work done!!! Sorry for your daughters fears I am trying my best not to pass mine on to my daughters.ANyway back to the original question,of course you should only go by what you feel is right but it sounds to me like he is on the mark,and I am sure your daughter will apppreciate the "not knowing or remembering!" take care, Wren
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its all fun & games til someone puts an eye out,then its still fun ,you just can't see***
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jewelfields
Newbie
Reged: 06/21/02
Posts: 26
Loc: California
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You might want to look into waterlase dentistry.
www.biolase.com/waterlase.html
It is supposed to be a new, innovative less painful dental technology, however as I read these posts, I'm beginning to like the idea of this halcion assisted dentistry. I have some serious dental work Ive been putting off myself, and I think unless you are a bonified masochist, no one likes going to the dentist and it's the most natural thing in the world to develop anxieties around it. I whish you much luck in finding your daughter the safest and most comfortable dentistry.
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jack_in_ca
Newbie
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 48
Loc: California
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Quote:
My 18 year old daughter is having some dental work done. There's no oral surgery involved, nothing invasive...it's just that as she's gotten older, she's developed this huge fear of going to the dentist. He's agreed for her to be sedated since this will be a somewhat long procedure and called in a prescription to our pharmacy. The medication is triazolam (Halcion) and his instructions to me were for her to take one tab an hour before the procedure (but on the bottle it says 20 minutes. Which is it???). Then she is to bring the script with her in case he wants to sedate her further.
I've never heard of using triazolam for something like this. I thought it was a sleep aid? I looked in my PDR and it's not indicated for anything other than as a sleep aid.
My daughter has never taken any kind of tranquilizer or sedative. I guess I'm a little anxious about it. I know nothing about triazolam. Can someone who's taken this medication give me some info on it?
TIA
Imago
Makes perfect sense to me. I can't get in a dentist's chair without a benzo (mine gives me Valium, but Halcion is a good choice too, maybe better because it's a more sedating but shorter acting benzodiazepine than Valium).
Peace,
Jack
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"Hello, Saddam?...George...Yeah, I know...my bad..."
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Imago
Member
Reged: 01/12/02
Posts: 152
Loc: Lone Star State
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Thanks, everyone, for responding to my post. I appreciate your comments.
Yes, her dentist is the type who is always up on all the latest procedures and techniques. He is very good and my daughter loves him. Even with sedation, she would absolutely refuse to go to anyone else. I trust him...but sedation with triazolam was just something I had never heard of. I was expecting Valium...although I wasn't sure it would work. I've known people who had anxiety through the roof (like my daughter) who were given Valium and they reported it didn't have the expected or desired effect.
Gandalf, how fast does this drug work? Will I have trouble getting her to and from the dentist's office? What I mean is...will she be extremely sedated and have difficulty walking, etc? Why didn't I ask the dentist all these questions when we were in his office??? LOL I should try to contact him tomorrow, I guess. The procedure is Wednesday. I do feel much better about it after reading the articles you provided the links to, though.
Thanks again.
Imago
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gandalf431
Stranger
Reged: 04/15/04
Posts: 9
Loc: Tennessee
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Quote:
Thanks, everyone, for responding to my post. I appreciate your comments.
Yes, her dentist is the type who is always up on all the latest procedures and techniques. He is very good and my daughter loves him. Even with sedation, she would absolutely refuse to go to anyone else. I trust him...but sedation with triazolam was just something I had never heard of. I was expecting Valium...although I wasn't sure it would work. I've known people who had anxiety through the roof (like my daughter) who were given Valium and they reported it didn't have the expected or desired effect.
Gandalf, how fast does this drug work? Will I have trouble getting her to and from the dentist's office? What I mean is...will she be extremely sedated and have difficulty walking, etc? Why didn't I ask the dentist all these questions when we were in his office??? LOL I should try to contact him tomorrow, I guess. The procedure is Wednesday. I do feel much better about it after reading the articles you provided the links to, though.
Thanks again.
Imago
Well of course everyone reacts differently. I am a 190lb man and halcion really does sedate me heavily, but it only seems like I go into the sleep mode when I sit down and relax. Yes do call the dentist, but I do not think you will be dragging her out of the car. Let us know how it turns out.
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I am Gandalf the White, but black is mightier still.....
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Imago
Member
Reged: 01/12/02
Posts: 152
Loc: Lone Star State
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Quote:
Well of course everyone reacts differently. I am a 190lb man and halcion really does sedate me heavily, but it only seems like I go into the sleep mode when I sit down and relax. Yes do call the dentist, but I do not think you will be dragging her out of the car. Let us know how it turns out.
Hmmm...my daughter is a little thing...maybe 100 lb.
But one of the articles I read made it sound as if she would really be "awake" and able to respond even though she wouldn't remember anything. So hopefully you're right and I won't have to throw her over my shoulder. And surely her dentist wouldn't prescribe a medication that would literally knock her out.
She'll have to have another procedure with sedation in a couple of weeks. I'll be better prepared and more comfortable with that one, having gone through it once already.
The stuff was pricey, btw...$2.50 per tab and it was generic.
Imago
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Imago
Member
Reged: 01/12/02
Posts: 152
Loc: Lone Star State
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Quote:
You might want to look into waterlase dentistry.
www.biolase.com/waterlase.html
It is supposed to be a new, innovative less painful dental technology, however as I read these posts, I'm beginning to like the idea of this halcion assisted dentistry. I have some serious dental work Ive been putting off myself, and I think unless you are a bonified masochist, no one likes going to the dentist and it's the most natural thing in the world to develop anxieties around it. I whish you much luck in finding your daughter the safest and most comfortable dentistry.
This new waterlase dentistry sounds great. While I don't require sedation when I visit my dentist, I really dread it when drilling is required. UGH I would be willing to fork over more money to avoid it.
I think I'll ask my daughter's dentist about it. I'm positive he'll be aware of it.
Thanks for the info, jewelfields.
Imago
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Julz
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/17/03
Posts: 222
Loc: NJ Shore
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I've been in the dental field for 20+ years. I presently manage a Dental Office, and we employ a Periodontist and an Endodontist who each come here once a month.
The Periodontist administers what is called "Oral Conscious Sedation", and as other posters have mentioned, it is a new approach to those who have major fears and phobias about having dental work done.
May I just mention one thing- it is best to find out that your dentist or specialist has taken a course in "Oral Conscious Sedation"- just to give YOU peace of mind that he/she administers the correct dosage, and has received at least credits for completing the course and has firsthand knowledge of this new procedure.
JMO,
Julz
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Love never fails. 1Cor 13:8
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pinkbarbie
Stranger
Reged: 11/30/04
Posts: 5
Loc: Michigan
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I have been a hygienist for 15 years. My employer has been using a Waterlase for over a year. PATIENTS LOVE IT! It is comparable to a very strong powerwash. It is not a heat laser as most people think of when they hear the term laser. It is considered self anesthetizing which means no injections. The statistics state 90% of patients do not need any injections, but we feel that percentage is higher. It works EXCELLENT for children and those adults that have extreme dental phobias. Waterlase has a website (waterlase.com) that may answer questions and give DDS names in your area where this is available. This may be an alternative if you are nervous about premedication. Thankyou so much for your time and I hope this helps! 
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pinkbarbie
Stranger
Reged: 11/30/04
Posts: 5
Loc: Michigan
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I should have added in my previous post that in our office, the Waterlase is no extra charge. The composite (or white) fillings we use when using this procedure are slightly more costly than the silver fillings. We have had no complaints regarding the slight fee increase as people feel it is worth it!
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Lablady2
Member
Reged: 05/05/04
Posts: 186
Loc: New York City
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There is SOooooooo much written about dental phobias - how about "Doctor" as in MD phobia - which came about when a bunch of bungling surgeons killed my Dad. No one ever writes anything about people having such a fear of MD's that they NEVER go to one!
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saint808
Journeyman
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 86
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i had halcion for my wisdom teeth, don't really remember a thing. It's not that uncommon.
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tone
Veteran
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 529
Loc: Chicago
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a super short and powerful benzodiazapine. i sure would like to have those because since they are out of your system so fast, youd be less likely to get hooked on them if used every 48 hours or more. theyd be off your receptors most the time and thus no real dependance happening
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zippy66
Enthusiast
Reged: 09/17/04
Posts: 227
Loc: The Spine
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Midazolam(versed) is also used for same reasons. Potent, short half life. It is being marketed towards childrens dentistry.
Zip66
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