Opioids IV sedation for Wisdom teeth...Freaking out..

[CLT31]

Hey everyone.

Ok, I am having 3 wisdom teeth and a molar taken out tomorrow and I am freaking out about the IV sedation. I have a laundry list of questions now that never came to mind during the consultation.

I have been taking vicodin for about 3 years, everyday. Started with a cosmetic surgery, then migraines and rotator cuff, then because I could. I have never taken more than a half of the 10 mg at a time, but I take a half like every 2 hours or so. I usually wind up taking no more than 4 a day. However, wasnt that many from the start. Started at a half a day, then just kept going up. I refuse to take any more than 4 though. I am planning on quitting cold turkey, just need to get over my fear of withdrawal. I know I do not take that many as I have known many other people who take wayyyy more than me.

Anyways, I was wondering what effect this will have on the IV sedation, twilight sleep or whatever they call it. I wrote down on my sheet that I take vicodin for migraines and only occasionally. I just couldn't bring myself to tell the truth. From looking at me, you would never guess I have this problem. I look like a beautiful 23 year old mother whom would never be in to this crap. Oh, if people only knew....

Now, since being there a week ago and in pain, they prescribed me percocet until the surgery. I have taken it as directed, well actually a little less. They had wanted me to take 2, and I have only taken a half. The paperwork says no food or drink after midnight. It says nothing about prescription meds though. I am still in agony so of course I am going to take them in the morning, procedure is not until early afternoon. Is this going to be a bad choice? I just know there is no way that I cannot. Even if I was not in pain, I am so used to the routine of taking them religiously every few hours.

Just looking for some insight from those that have gone through this. I am probably overreacting but I hate the feeling of not being in control. I know I will be "technically" conscious, but I am petrified that I am going to die somehow.

Thanks for any input, and sorry for the saga.

 

[jamesBrown]

I went through this EXACT same scenario about 2 months ago....

IV sedation for wisdom teeth.
Regular use of opiates(including heroin usually)

Dont, worry, you will be FINE.....I guarantee it.

The drug they use to sedate you is not an opiod. Somehow this makes it less likely to cause complications when put under.

I could go into all the details of why you got nothin to worry about but im just too tired at the moment...

...long story short...dont worry about a thing...and enjoy the lasting effects of the sedatives, you will feel fabulously loopy for a good 2-3 hours after you wake up.

 

[sir_thizzalot]

...Are you afraid of waking up in extra pain or something? Just take your vicodin then..
What they use to put you out isn't a pain killer at all, unless I'm missing something..

 

[jamesBrown]

...Are you afraid of waking up in extra pain or something? Just take your vicodin then..
What they use to put you out isn't a pain killer at all, unless I'm missing something..

I dont think hes saying hes afraid to wake up in extra pain..i think hes referring to the fact that hes a regular opiate user, which he's worried will cause complications with the drugs they are going to use when they put him under. He thinks the opiates in his system from recreational use will interact/potentiate the drugs they give him....possibly causing some form of overdose or complication of that kind.

*Sry...*she*...oops*

 

[jamesBrown]

Let me put it this way CLT31...I had heroin in my system when they put me under(which is dozens of times more potent than vicodin)....and they used laughing gas, and then on top of that, they used some sort of IV medication to knock me out....I thought it was always one or the other....but they suprised me.

They even put the laughing gas mask on my face and started talking to each other and forgot it was still there and after like 10 minutes I was FLYYYYYYIIIINNGGGG....I would have told me deepest darkest secrets to the dentist if he had cared to ask....thats how loopy I was....

....then I had to remind them it was still on my face and pumping laughing gas into my lungs and they were like "OOOOPS!!...lets just take this off now."....I was feeling AWESOME....actually it was a little too intense for a while...thats how strong the laughing gas worked....

...and then on top of that, the injected me with something to knock me out(even though I was practically passed out from the gas) and right before they said the drug they injected me with causes itchyness in the pubic area...weird huh??...anyway...thats the last thing I remember...

....next thing I know im waking up like 30-45 minutes later with a bag of wisdom teeth on my lap and I felt like I had taken a whole bottle of xanax...it was fun, but a little annoying at times(had trouble walking, talking etc..).

Anyway...they FUCKED ME UP with too many drugs...ANNND I had heroin in my sytem from that morning...and I didnt die.

I promise you, you will be fine....taking vcodin will do nothing but make the pain less, before and after....allthough I still dont recommend taking a SHITLOAD of vicodin right before surgery....but a few pills isnt anything too worry about.

 

[danceofdays]

I know when my roommate had his knee surgery a few months back, he asked what was in the IV before they stuck it in him, and was told "lorazepam, oxycodone, morphine, ketamine". So I guess there is a chance you might be sedated with opiates. While I'm sure whatever they give you that's not a narcotic will do the trick, if you're worried about it I'd mention it to your doctor before the surgery exactly how much you take, and they'll decide what to do from there.

 

[jamesBrown]

I know when my roommate had his knee surgery a few months back, he asked what was in the IV before they stuck it in him, and was told "lorazepam, oxycodone, morphine, ketamine". So I guess there is a chance you might be sedated with opiates. While I'm sure whatever they give you that's not a narcotic will do the trick, if you're worried about it I'd mention it to your doctor before the surgery exactly how much you take, and they'll decide what to do from there.

Thats for knee surgery...I guarantee you they wont be using any of those drugs for a wisdom tooth removal.

In fact, removal of wisdom teeth isnt even considered true surgery....well it is technically, but you know what I mean. It can even be done while your fully concious.

Knee surgery includes many more complications and pain issues that wisdom teeth removal doesn't even come near to.

i asked the dentist what meds they used to knock me out and I forgot exacty what he said but it definitely wasn't a narcotic opiod or anythign like that.\

I appreciate your input but its not quite right to compare knee surgery to removal of teeth. The two don't quite compare well together.

 

[cj]

When I had mine cut out I got laughing gas and 2 injections of god knows what. It was bad though I woke up in the middle with this asshole like straddling me ripping my teeth out. worst black eye I have had in my life moral be careful tolerance can be a tricky bitch.

 

[CLT31]

Thanks for the replies!!

I figured since I haven't taken the vicodin in like 4 days, instead using the percocet they gave me, that I will tell them that I have taken the percocet for the last few days and today as well. I think the vicodin should of been out of my system anyways...

I am asking before the procedure what medications they use, because I really do not think they would use an opiate, would probably be overkill I think. This is not a major surgery and at an oral surgeons office, so I am assuming that they would want to limit the risk and use only one type of medication instead of a cocktail.

 

[TheCrackFairy]

Yeah if you tell them you have an opioid tolerance they'll give you a non opioid analgesic. When I had an operation on my hand, I don't know what it is they gave me but I know what opioids feel like and it was definitely no opioid. It did the trick whatever it was. I asked them what it was but I was so stoned I immediately forgot. Still to this day I wonder what that stuff was. Definitely had recreational potential. I was surprised by how cool the nurses were, at one point I asked them to put some morphine in my drip half joking and the nurse was actually considering doing it, she probably would have if the tight assed surgeon didn't tell her not to.

 

[Levvytation]

The iv sedation they use (in the UK anyway) is benzo's, powerful fuckin benzo's lol. The idea is not just to make you not give a shit lol, but also so you won't remember the whole procedure. They will also give you a hefty wallop of local anaesthic (novocaine), so you certainly won't feel any pain at the time....just several hours later when the stuff wears off. you'll get a short-term script of painkillers, usually hydro or oxy seeing as you're having 3 out.

Tell em if you have any tolerance to either benzo's/hypnotics so they'll give you more, same with the post-op script of painkillers.

Don't worry you'll be fine. I know its not a pleasent op, but your (understandable) fear is making today worse for you. Remember, fear is your enemy & always makes things seem worse than they actually are.

All the best, Levvy


*edit* & don't worry about dying...not gonna happen...its almost impossible to die from benzo overdose, you'll just be high & out of it for longer.

 

[HippieChick]

I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth out at 17. They knocked me out with I think laughing gas. I don't remember getting any shots. I'm 43 now so it's been awhile. But during the surgery I can remember swallowing a lot and could see his hands going in and out of my mouth. They had a hard time waking me up - had to have my mom come in and talk to me and rub my hand. I only smoked pot at that time. When I got in the car I vomited up all the blood I had swallowed during the surgery. Was pretty gross, thank goodness there was a big (empty) cup in the cup holder. I would be honest with them if I were you, your decision though.

 

[Law]

The drug they use to sedate you is not an opiod. Somehow this makes it less likely to cause complications when put under.

You can't say for certain whether or not they'll be using an opiate. Because she's being put into "twilight," and MOST of the time, they do use some form of strong opiate + strong benzo.

When I had an EGK done, I was dosed with Fentynal and Versed, and what I was having done was completely painless.

So, don't say for sure whether or not she'll be getting opiates used in her IV sedation, because YOU don't know. And being that opiates + benzo combination is very common during "light" procedures, there's a high possibility that SOME form of opiate will be used.

...Fuck a bunch of false info.

----------------
Now playing: Atoms Family - Nuthin Really Happens (Paradox
via FoxyTunes

 

[NotQuiteAnonymous]

I had all four removed at age 15 and was rx-ed 2 hefty doses of valium by the oral surgeon...one for the night before to sleep and one to take upon waking the morning of (i had 9am surgery too).

Doc mentioned the IV next in the consultation (after writing the valium script and handing it to my mom) and i flipped...repeating over and over 'your not sticking any needles in me.
I HATE needles!' He took the valium script back from my mom, and changed it so i would get 3 pills...1 the night before and 2 the morning of...I was so completely gone i actually watched the nurse put the IV in...

You shouldn't have anything to worry about.
l had an anestheologist present for the twilight sleep...did anyone else?

 

[cj]

As an added thing to my story I told them tylenol didnt agree with me and the dude gave me 20 demeral!! then he phoned in 30 lortab 10s needless to say I was a happy teenager. I was so fucked up on demeral the day after the surgery I had all my friends over ripping bongs lol bad idea.

 

[Pralus]

Hey CLT 31. I've had all mine out and aside from a trainee dentist who did my first one for free and wasn't so good, they have been amazing experiences. I'll explain.
I'm a total pussy when it comes to pain. I had the last three out under local with no sedation. The secret was focusing on how amazing local anaesthetic is. I expected it to be horrible, was sweating in the chair but no pain. None. Fucking amazing. I also thought about how lucky i was to be born in a time when we aren't given glugs of whiskey and told to hold still. Focus on the fact you cant feel the pain, it's really amazing. Hope it works for you...

 

[Pralus]

Oh yeah as for the meds. Can you skip the morning Opiate, or take 1/4 or something? make sure they aren't giving you any Fentanyl with the benzo. Not sure where you are but here Midazolam is used. When i've had other procedures, three mg IV gets me blotto. I'm about 75kg. But seriously, if your not totally out of it with the Benzo think about how cool it is that you can't feel a fucking thing and they're pulling a tooth out of it's socket. Crazy. All the best with it.
P.s none of mine required gum cuts, this can be a little more mentally challenging, they normally put you under for that anyway.

 

[SteeleyJ]

They will probably do this with midazolam. Possibly midazolam and fentanyl combo.

 

[BIGsherm7272]

You will be ok, they will probably use a midazolam/fentanyl combo or something similar.

But I was in the same situation as you, except with an mri. I am rather claustrophobic and the mri machines they had were older and very confined, so I told them I needed to be sedated. They were like "ok, here is 5mg of valium to help you relax". At that point I just lol'ed and said I'll bring my own next time.

 

[jamesBrown]

You can't say for certain whether or not they'll be using an opiate. Because she's being put into "twilight," and MOST of the time, they do use some form of strong opiate + strong benzo.

When I had an EGK done, I was dosed with Fentynal and Versed, and what I was having done was completely painless.

So, don't say for sure whether or not she'll be getting opiates used in her IV sedation, because YOU don't know. And being that opiates + benzo combination is very common during "light" procedures, there's a high possibility that SOME form of opiate will be used.

...Fuck a bunch of false info.

----------------
Now playing: Atoms Family - Nuthin Really Happens (Paradox
via FoxyTunes

I was just going from my experience with talking to my dentist....he said they NEVER used opiates or benzos for simple procedures like a wisdom tooth removal. Its only even possible that they would do that if your teeth are like EXTREMELY impacted or something, he said. They use other medications because they work just fine for that sort of simple procedure and dont carry the added problems that IV doses of opiates and benzos cause....because the OP DID say that it was going to be an IV medication.