Oral Sedation - Anti-Anxiety Medication

Most commonly, oral sedation (usually in the form of

anti-anxiety pills also known as “happy pills”) is prescribed for relieving anxiety in
the hours immediately before a dental appointment. An anti-anxiety or a sleeping
pill taken the night before the appointment, an hour before going to bed, can help
with falling asleep and getting some rest. Alternatives include a stiff drink or
stocking up on rescue remedy… but find out more below!

Anti-Anxiety Pills (Benzodiazepines or “Benzos”)

In dentistry, the most commonly prescribed drugs for (or rather against!) anxiety
belong to the “benzodiazepine” family. You’ve probably heard of them by their
tradenames – for example, Valium, Halcion, Xanax, or Ativan.
Benzos decrease anxiety by binding with receptors in the brain which tone down
activity in those parts of the brain responsible for fear.
Travel warning!
You shouldn’t travel on your own after you’ve taken benzodiazepines in the
doses mentioned here – make sure you have an escort, even if you’re walking
there! It’s easy to become disorientated and miss your stop if going by bus or
train, or walk straight in front of a car – or you might even forget that you’re on
your way to your dentist’s (“hey cool” I hear you say )… So find someone to
accompany you. And please don’t pop pills and drive!
Benzodiazepines come in two flavours:

1. Sedative-Hypnotics: drugs which induce a calming effect, including

drowsiness (“sedation”). In higher doses, they induce a state resembling
physiological sleep (“hypnosis”).
2. Anti-Anxiety Drugs: drugs which act primarily to relieve anxiety and make
you feel calm.

While all benzodiazepines act as sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs, some are
more targeted at brain areas which control sleep and wakefulness, while others
are more specifically targeted at brain areas which control emotions such as fear.
The classification of whether a benzodiazepine is sedative-hypnotic or anti-
anxiety is to some extent an arbitrary one, as the boundaries are quite fluid. As a
rule of thumb, in higher doses benzos act like sedatives and may promote sleep,
while in lower doses, they simply reduce anxiety.
Benzodiazepines are Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants (for example,
there can be a decline in blood pressure and breathing – which is good, because
if your heart isn’t racing, you’ll feel calmer). They should not be mixed with other
CNS depressants such as alcohol. Don’t self-medicate and stick to the dose your
dentist or doctor recommends (which may be a higher dose than specified on the
drug package insert. Reason being that the package inserts recommend a dose
to induce sedation or sleep in a nonstress situation such as the home
environment). It is possible to overdose on these things, and overdoses could
lower your breathing to dangerously low levels, which could result in coma or
even death.
In case this sounds scary – unless you make a deliberate attempt to overdose,
it’s extremely unlikely for any dangerous symptoms to develop. The reason why
benzos are so widely used is precisely because they’re safe.
People for whom benzos have worked well describe them as “working wonders”,
as having a calming and relaxing effect, or as making you feel “out of it”.
Giddiness, confusion and saying silly things are also common. Benzos may
make you forget large parts of what happened while you were under their
influence, which can be handy if you don’t want to remember very much!
However, this effect is not reliable.
Dentists who offer oral sedation will have particular preferences, depending on
their experience (and experiences) with various drugs. Commonly prescribed
benzos include:

Temazepam (Restoril):
Temazepam is quite frequently used in the UK. In contrast to Valium, its half-life
is about 10 hours, so quite a bit shorter. It kicks in after about half an hour. The
recommended dose is 10 – 40 mg (with the most common one being 30 mg).
Why this huge range? In some people 40 mg of temazepam produces minimal
effects whilst in others as little as 10 mg produces profound sedation. This is a
problem with all benzos – there is no known method of identifying who is
susceptible and who is resistant to benzodiazepines.

Diazepam (Valium):
Diazepam produces a mild level of sleep and amnesia, and takes effect about an
hour after taking it. The average dose for an adult is 5 to 10 mg. The
disadvantage of diazepam is that it stays in the system for much longer than it is
needed (it has a half-life of 20-100 hours).

Lorazepam (Ativan):
 Lorazepam can produce a higher level of sleepiness and memory loss than
diazepam. The usual dose is 2 to 3 mg. It kicks in after about one hour, like
diazepam, but its half-life is much shorter (12 to 14 hours).

Midazolam (Versed):
Midazolam is a short-acting benzo which can produce high levels of sleepiness
and memory loss. It is given as a syrup or mixed into a (non-alcoholic) drink. The
drink would usually be given at the dentist’s. It kicks in very quickly, after about
10-20 minutes.

Triazolam (Halcion):
This is not available in the U.K., but is hugely popular in the U.S. Unlike the other
benzos mentioned here, it is not so much used as a premedication, but as an
alternative to IV sedation in the dental office. This can work really well for some
people and many swear by it! But as with all benzos, other people find it has little
effect on them.
Controversies in Dentistry – Titration of Oral Sedatives
Occasionally, Halcion is used in the United States as an alternative to IV
sedation. One of the effects of Halcion is that it can induce amnesia (memory
loss) for what’s happening from the point the drug kicks in to the point it wears
off. (All benzos can have this effect to some extent, but Halcion somewhat more
so than others. However, the amnesia effect is unreliable – this also applies to
Halcion). If Halcion is given intermittently one hour before an appointment and
then during treatment at intermittent intervals, it can work well for some people as
a substitute for IV sedation.
However, in 2002 the American Dental Association came out in a position paper
against titration of oral sedation medication (titration means adding more of the
drug, i. e. giving extra pills until the desired effect is achieved). This statement
followed the rise of an organization called the “Dental Organization for Conscious
Sedation” (or DOCS for short) which was founded in 2000 by a DDS called
Michael Silverman and provides training in oral sedation. In 2004, DOCS had
more than 1,900 member dentists in the US. DOCS is where the misleading term
“sleep dentistry” (applied to oral sedation) was first invented. The training
courses also advocate titration of oral medication. Many dentists feel that this
practice is unsafe and/or that the training is not thorough enough. Even with
thorough training, many dentists believe that titration of oral medication is too
unpredictable. Oral medication can take up to two hours to absorb – so a patient
could swallow a pill and the dentist, not seeing the effects of the drug an hour or
two later, delivers a second pill. Meanwhile, the first pill is being absorbed and
the patient has ingested twice the amount he or she needs.
Because of the medical and legal situation, many dentists do not feel comfortable
with this method.
 Can I take benzos as a premedication before IV
sedation?
Yes you can. You must however let your dentist know that you have taken them
and what dose (unless your dentist has prescribed them and knows anyway). Be
sure to inform your dentist beforehand, rather than on the day, because you may
forget to mention it otherwise.

When not to take benzodiazepines (contraindications):

This varies from drug to drug. For example, some benzos are safe to take if you
have liver problems, while others are not, and some are safe to take if you have
heart problems, while others are not. You should be sure to inform your doctor or
dentist if any of the following apply: known allergy to the drug, narrow-angle
glaucoma, pregnancy, severe respiratory disease (COPD), congestive heart
failure (CHF), impaired kidney or liver function, depression/bipolar
disorder/psychoses, chronic bronchitis and some other conditions. Also if you’re
taking other medications be sure to mention this.

Oral sedation – A hit-and-miss affair?

One problem associated with oral sedation is that it can be a bit of a hit-and-miss
affair. Basically, you don’t know how well the drug will be absorbed from the
stomach. Because the response to a drug is unpredictable anyway, you have to
tailor the dose so that the 25% of people most susceptible to the drug won’t get
an overdose. But that means that the 25% who are least susceptible won’t get
enough… Body weight, height, or gender are not good indicators of how high the
“ideal dose” should be, because the drug exercises its effects on the nerve cells
in the brain. So, if you’re quite large, don’t take a little extra “just in case”. A
standard dose might have virtually no effect on a petite female, but a large guy
might be totally zonked after taking the same dose… you get the picture!
Other factors which may affect how well a benzo will work include whether you
want it to work and your (and your doctor’s/dentist’s!) belief that it will work (the
so-called “placebo effect”, which, BTW, has been shown to work even if you’re
aware of it). If you don’t want the drug to work, for example because you’re
scared of losing control, your brain may try and fight the effects of the drug. As a
result, you may not experience much of an effect at all, or else experience the
effect as unpleasant. In which case, oral sedation may not be for you.

What people on our forum have said about benzos:

“My doctor prescribed me valium. I take one 30 minutes before my appt. It makes
you a little sleepy and your anxiety disappears. It puts you in a “whatever” mood
and helps you stop thinking about the pain or worries. ”
 “I remember being taken to the chair and them giving me a vial of liquid
Halcion…This stuff tastes like Peppermint Cherry…leaves a strong taste in your
mouth, but no side effects… Everything around me went fuzzy and blurry, like I
was in a dream or something. They moved me to the other room, where
everything happened so fast!!! I don’t actually remember much, but I did feel bits
and pieces… it wasn’t like a “Get me out of this chair now, feeling” but something
that I could deal with… I remember them preparing the molds for my bridge and
crown, but I didn’t quite care, and I didn’t even GAG! Which normally I would
have!
I did have some amnesia, and I did feel somewhat calm and distant from the
procedures, which made me feel good. The appointment was 2 hours, but it felt
like I was in and out of there in like 15 minutes. I don’t remember walking to the
car or the ride home.”

Zolpidem (Ambien)
Ambien is a sedative/hyppnotic drug designed to relax you and help you fall
asleep. So it can be useful for the night before an appointment. It is chemically
similar to benzodiazepines. It is not a barbiturate (the traditional “sleeping pill”,
which thankfully has fallen out of favour).

Alcohol

While alcohol is another CNS depressant, its use as a sedative

in dentistry has never been popular . Still, alcohol has long been used by
apprehensive patients as a means of self-medication before dental
appointments. Some people find that a G&T or a glass of wine before their
appointment does the trick:
“I’m one of those people who does not respond well to anti-anxiety meds
because they either knock me right out, even in the smallest dosage, or the side-
effects, that never go away, just compound my problems.
So, I find that ONE (not a whole bottle) small glass of wine works wonders in just
relaxing me enough to get some relief, without any of the horrible side effects of
medication. And I honestly don’t understand why everyone gets up in arms when
you talk about using a TINY bit of alcohol to self-medicate responsibly.”
Don’t go overboard, though! You’re not doing your dentist or yourself any favours
by stumbling in reeking of beer and whisky … If possible, alcohol should be
avoided before any actual treatment:
“The alcohol won’t interfere with the local anaesthetic, but it will cause the local to
be less effective due to the vasodilation effect and it will also cause any bleeding
to be worse.” (Gordon Laurie, BDS)

Herbal Alternatives

No, not THAT herb!!! no, I’m talking about “rescue remedy”!

Rescue Remedy

Rescue remedy is the most famous of the Bach flower

remedies (which you may have heard of). Unlike the other Bach flower remedies,
this one is a mix of five different remedies (Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens,
Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem) which can make you feel more calm and
relaxed during a stressful time or event.
You may be inclined to think “homeopathy? – bah, humbug”. And who could
blame you? Homeopathy is about taking a substance and diluting it… then
diluting it again… and again… until you are left with a solution which contains
such a weak dilution that there isn’t any of the original substance left (still, some
people swear by it. Personally, I reckon it’s a placebo effect – but placebos have
been shown to be almost as efficient as “the real thing” in many instances and
don’t have any side-effects, so what the heck?)
Actually, Bach flower remedies aren’t homeopathic. Unlike homeopathic
remedies, they contain an actual diluted herbal extract in alcohol (the alcohol is
there as a preservative). Rescue remedy has received some rave reviews from
people trying to calm their nerves before a dental appointment (and in the days
or weeks leading up to the first appointment) – so why not give it a try? You’ve
got nothing to lose, as there are no side effects. It’s the only form of oral sedation
which will allow you to drive to and from your appointment on your own.
Dosage: “In an emergency Rescue Remedy can be taken neat from the bottle,
four drops at a time, and as frequently as required. Otherwise put four drops in a
glass of water and take frequent sips until the emotions have calmed.” (from the
Bach Centre’s website, www.bachcentre.com). Rescue remedy is available in
most pharmacies and natural health stores.