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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> novocaine trigger?
        
(Message started by: ExplodingEyeBall on Jun 8^th, 2005, 10:22am)

Title: novocaine trigger?
Post by ExplodingEyeBall on Jun 8^th, 2005, 10:22am

I had a dentist appointment yesterday. He started a root canal on me. I have to go back later to get the temporary filling removed and get it finished.

I've been relatively PF this summer. I don't know why but I'm not complaining. Any way........ After I got back from the dentist. I got back to back to back.... multiple shadows for the rest of the evening. I'm OK this morning but I was just curious if anyone else has ever been triggered by novocaine?

If it's a know trigger, I'll at least be a little better prepared before I go back for my next appointment.

Pat

Title: Re: novocaine trigger?
Post by Margi on Jun 8^th, 2005, 10:25am

Pat, yes - we've had some reports of this happening over at our Canadian site. It could be a result of the epinephrine contained in the novacaine which is similar to adrenaline. Adrenaline is a natural abortive but when it leaves your system, it could be mimicking the "relaxation trigger" that most clusterheads succumb to.
You could maybe avoid this by asking for the non-epinephrine freezing next time. Dentists do have it but they usually only use it if you request it.
Sorry to hear you had a bad night, Pat.

Title: Re: novocaine trigger?
Post by marlinsfan on Jun 8^th, 2005, 10:47am

I had not had a cycle in 3 years. I'm usually yearly, bu the last cycle before this current one was 3 years ago.

This one started 4 days after I had back surgery, for which the Dr. used general anesthesia. I was on Vicadin for 3 days after surgery, and my cycle started the day after I got off the Vicadin.

Maybe my trigger was the anesthesia, maybe it was the Vicadin. Maybe neither and I was just due.....

Title: Re: novocaine trigger?
Post by E-Double on Jun 8^th, 2005, 1:01pm

I think prilocaine (sp) has been mentioned here as a non-triggering numbing agent

Title: Re: novocaine trigger?
Post by burnt-toast on Jun 8^th, 2005, 3:33pm

ExplodingEyeBall and All

In addition to the potential for Novocaine to be a trigger, there is also drug interaction between Novocaine and Lithium (a drug so commonly prescribed among us). I believe my dentist used Prilocaine and I ran into the same problem getting some repair work done at the hospital.

Always mention the meds. to dentists and doctors even when you don't think there is an issue.

Tom

Title: Re: novocaine trigger?
Post by mcf69 on Jun 8^th, 2005, 11:10pm

The novacane trigger definately makes sense since the novacane is usually injected into the trigeminal nerve, that along with the effects of the novacane itself are more than enough to trigger an attack.

Title: Re: novocaine trigger?
Post by Chillrmn1 on Jun 9^th, 2005, 10:01am

Margi's right on with the epinephrine (EPI). Experienced tremendous triggers with Xylocaine containing EPI (3) times administered by dentist. Next two times Citanest (Prilocaine) without EPI was administered and had no trigger problems. I'm sticking with the Citanest w/o EPI in future.

It's also been reported that NO2 (laughing gas) is a bad trigger also, but I've never used it.

Bob

Title: Re: novocaine trigger?
Post by jokrs2 on Jun 10^th, 2005, 4:58pm

Hi Pat. Chillrmn is right on the money!!
I have my dentist give me the caine w/o epinephrine and they also let me breathe o2 and I stay away from nitrous. This has helped me considerably with my visits. Dental visits can be stressful anyway which could also be a trigger :-/. Blessings, Joe

Title: Re: novocaine trigger?
Post by hdido on Jun 11^th, 2005, 2:04am

I have the opposite effect with dental anesthetics. When I have dental work done on the left side of my mouth (my CH pain is in my left eye), the injected anesthetic not only numbs my mouth but also stops my CH pain or greatly reduces it; once the sfuff wears off, the CH pain returns, though not necessarily worse than before I had my injection. My neurologist said that this makes sense, as the anesthetic apparently travels through all of the nerves on the side into which it is injected.