Scary Reaction To Versed?

[Deleted member 10686]

A few years back I went to have an endoscopy; they gave me versed as a form of sedation. It's pretty much like the date rape drug of the medical community, it keeps you awake but erases your memory for the next hour or so, at least that's my understanding of the drug .

I had a terrible reaction to it. When I "woke up" I was fighting the nurse off of me, I was crying and hyperventilating, snot running down my nose, later to be told that I had been crying like that for the entire hour I was under, they were not able to complete the procedure because I was combative and emotional, spitting the scope out of my mouth and trying to escape. Screaming and crying and throwing a major fit. It was insane. It took me all day and night to calm down from it, maybe even longer, I don't know, it was traumatizing.

Now, I have to get my wisdom teeth taken out in a few days, and they have to use versed. They are using it in combination with other drugs though. I told the oral surgeon about my previous experience and how traumatic it was, so he said he would use a low dose of versed, but that he needed to use it because without it the other medications may cause me to hallucinate and he didn't want me "seeing dragons" and that the versed stops the hallucinating part. So I reluctantly, very reluctantly agreed. I felt like I had no choice but to agree. It seems this is my only option.

I've read multiple websites about the horrors of the drug versed, and I've experienced the horror myself. Have any of you? I've read that versed had even caused PTSD in some people, and I totally can believe that. Does anyone have any thoughts, similar experiences, maybe with a low dose and other drugs in combination it won't be the same?

 

[Justmehere]

Can you get the records showing how much Versed was used before? That might help the doc manage the meds well. Then he can see exactly the amount used before.

I don't do well on different medications. This isn't the same med but kind of the same thing. Benedryl makes most very sedated, but for me, it sends me through the roof and I become almost aggressive.

Have you had any trauma happen while sedated? That plays a role for me as well. When I had surgery I kept telling them to stop until the nurse told me I was safe.

 

[shandemonium]

I wish I could speak specifically to that drug, but I can't. If I were in your shoes though, I would research whether or not this Dentist "HAS TO" use this drug on you. There are millions of drugs out there!

And what's so bad about seeing dragons lol? I mean, it sounds better than your first experience. You do have the right to tell him "no" to a drug you had a bad reaction to.

Doctors are lazy overpaid pricks, so chances are he doesn't feel like researching an alternative. Make him! Do some research yourself but if you are that afraid of the Versed, wait until you have more info. You can always threaten to go to another dentist; that might get his attention!

 

[Leigh925]

I work in medicine and assist in surgeries where versed is our most commonly used drug. Versed is not a pain killer though so we always use a combination of other drugs to control that. Our docs are great but I know of other docs that don't do enough for pain control in my opinion during surgery knowing the patient most likely won't remember. As most of us know on this forum...the body remembers!

Also doctors and dentists that do their own sedation often are restricted on what they can use based on what level of in office surgeries they are certified to perform.

Doctors who do their own sedation get very comfortable using the drugs they are most familiar with and often don't get enough training using other drugs. Sometimes they are intimidated when using drugs they are less familiar with.

As a patient I want the doc to use the drug he is most confident in and knows the most about. I kind of agree with the dentist that the combination will be much more successful for you. However no one can say for sure and a back up plan needs to be worked out with the dentist in case you start to have an issue. I am sure the dose for a dental procedure is much less than an endoscopy.

I do question a little bit that if he can keep your pain levels down that something other than versed could be used.

As someone who was drugged and raped.....and had semi concious surgery under versed I completely understand the dilemma. Because versed was not used alone. I did just fine and it worked out for me. Don't know if any of this is helpful at all!!!! Best of Luck!

 

[scout86]

This is outside my area of expertise, by miles, BUT, they've been taking out wisdom teeth since way before this particular drug was around, I think. I had mine out in the mid 70's. (all 4 impacted) What ever they used completely knocked me out. It worked great. I kind of think there are other options. You might want to discuss that with him in more detail, especially with your history. Flat out ask him if he's ever had a reaction like yours. What would he do if he did? How would he extract someone's teeth if that was the reaction? Keep questioning until you're satisfied with the answers. You have a perfect right to feel safe.

 

[Chava]

I assume they need to do some cutting? I had mine pulled on several shots of novacaine. So I was present, but felt nothing, and all four were out in 30 minutes. But mine were simply pulled, no cutting needed. I realize that being completely awake and aware might be scarier for others but it was good for me...and my teeth situation.

Sorry I don't know what verse is...is it the same as "funny gas"? I don't know what options you have or if you are able to make a consultation with another oral surgeon to see what other options might be possible. ?? Some doctors do feel very comfortable with certain forms of sedation or medication, but I wouldn't know if there are other options for you or not. And some doctors take concerns to heart more seriously than others. It sounds like your doctor is at least listening, which must feel helpful. If other options aren't available, I'd agree with being sure it's the lowest safe dose in combination with whatever else they can use to safely numb you out...and could you have a close friend or family member there with you through the process???

 

[Deleted member 10686]

I kind of agree with the dentist that the combination will be much more successful for you. However no one can say for sure and a back up plan needs to be worked out with the dentist in case you start to have an issue. !

Is there something that they can give me to stop the freak out if I begin to have that reaction? It does help to hear the opinion of someone who had PTSD AND works in the field... Maybe the combo will be better than the straight dose of versed I got for the endoscopy

 

[Leigh925]

There are medications that can reverse versed as well as medications that can chill you out if you start to have that kind of reaction....truthfully some use them some only keep them in a kit for emergencies. So I would specifically ask "if I start to have a reaction to the versed what is the plan?" Simply knowing that may ease your anxiety.

One other note about versed. We are taught to speak only in certain ways around patients who are medicated with drugs like versed. For instance we are not allowed to use the word pain...we have to use to the word discomfort. Most of the time if you tell a patient on versed that they are okay..,they will believe you and relax. If you go into the procedure as calm as you can the versed will work on your behalf. If you go in certain that you are going to freak out unfortunately you probably will because our brains on versed respond to suggestion very well.

 

[Deleted member 10686]

So maybe I freaked out on the versed because I was sure I would freak out about a tube down my throat?

 

[Chava]

Tube down your throat...if that freaks you out, that would be worth considering because then you'd have a whole new angle for framing your concerns. I canceled an laparoscopy this summer because I've been intubated several times (emergency situations childhood on up) and don't feel ready to deal with it, or recovery pain. It's not a surgery I had to do now, but if I did have to, I would have brought all of those fears to my therapist and doctors and lined up support for surgery and post-surgery.

 

[Leigh925]

@forwardmotion462 that is very possible and with a dental procedure that will be one less thing to worry about!!! I don't handle the dentist well and I find that taking my iPod and headphones and putting my playlist on repeat is very helpful and relaxing even when I am sedated.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Why is there a need to have you awake during the procedure? Why are you getting local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia? You don't need to be awake for it, especially if the medicine that keeps you "awake" is going to be so harmful.