Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Seizure with lidocaine/epinephrine

I had a terrible experience today.  In a simple dental procedure, I had what I can only describe as a seizure after getting what was supposed to be lidocaine and epinephrine injection.  The area never got numb, and the pain from the point of the needle each time they attempted to inject me was painful.  I was taken to the ER and released after 8 hours with no explanation.  
I read that lidocaine can cause a seizure.  I have had injections many times with no problem.  What could have gone wrong?


This discussion is related to Lidocaine induced seizure during dental procedure.
6 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Had an experience with lidocaine yesterday at the dentist office.  I had a deep cavity filled and was given novocaine, lidocaine with epinephrine.   After that, my heart was racing, hands were shaking and  had to sit up .  Immediately told the dentist and dental assistant, they gave me a few minutes waiting for the medicine to numb the area an to wait out the shaky feeling I had.  After a few minutes, they  did the dental procedure  that went well.  So told them I didn't want the lidocaine again, it was a bit scary to get that racing heart rhythm, shakiness for  no reason.  It was like having two pots of coffee or running  where you need to stop and rest for air.  Wasn't expecting that to happen.   The dentist didn't tell me ahead of time was getting lidocaine, just the novocaine.  I've had fillings before without novocaine but since this was a deep extensive cavity, he felt needed to be sure the numbness  to deter an pain and expected bleeding.  So far never had any health issues, but maybe this is a sign should go for my yearly checkup ASAP.  Thanks for sharing.
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
Hi
This has happened to me and many many other people . I asked for carbocaine always . No Enephren  in Carbocaine! Although it doesn’t last as long . Don’t let them do that to you again ! Write it on your chart .
Avatar universal
My wife had seizure about 1 minute after her dentist injected her with lidocaine and epinephrine. The seizure lasted for about 1-2 minutes, her by blood pressure dropped to 90/55. She was very pale. What's interesting is that my wife is epileptic, but 18 months ago she was prescribed lamictal daily. Herr seizures stopped. This lidocaine induced seizure was the first in 18months.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I wanted to share my horrible dental experience was lidocaine (this happened to me a few years ago now).  I have ME/CFS and I hadnt seen the online warnings that for those of us with ME, anethestics with the epinephrine in them can be very bad and best avoided for those of us with this, so I found this out the hard way.

I didnt have any other pain relief except this lidocaine injection so my reaction was certainly from that.  It caused me to have a near seizure or a seizure.  My legs started majorly jerking, I started twitching all over.   I was left so bad that I couldnt walk after the procedure due to all developing neurological issues.  I was stuck in the dentist clinic for up to an hour until I was was able to walk to my car just outside the door.  I was so bad that we could of rang an ambualance (I thou choose not for that to happen as I hate hospitals).

If that wasnt bad enough, well my issues didnt end there once the neurological symptoms stopped.  Where I'd been injected me up into the roof of mouth.. went into extreme pain. It was as bad as someone was using a drill into me.  This injection site area hurt extremely for days and hurt far worst then the area in which my widom tooth had been removed from!!

Ive had lidocaine again since then without issue this time but now knew to say.. leave the epinephrine out of it please!!  (Ive since found out due that I already have abnormally high ephinephrine..so now on daily drug to lower that... no wonder I reacted so badly to that ephinephrine!)
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
This is exactly the information I was seeking. I have had two major seizures/convulsions from lidocaine (once with epinehrine, once witout). I was rushed to the hospital from the dentist's office both times. The seizures eventually subsided (after 4 hours or more). I recently discovered that I have ME/CFS. I suspected that the dental seizures were related. Do you have any sources for information on the correlation? Thanks.
Avatar universal
I had a scarry experience with lidocane/epinephrine today,  I felt like a lightning thru my tongue and then double vision.  If I covered one eye the vision was ok otherwise.  My blood pressure went up also from 107/75 to 149/89.  Vision is ok now,  blood pressure decreased but not all the way.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
After my similar experience, I can only think there was something in the needle that should not have been there.  The Loma Linda school dental department was not as nice as the doctor in your experience.  They immediately "circled the wagons" and became so defensive.  Ugh!!  I just write on my medical history that I am allergic to lidocaine and epinephrine.  However, I get phenol shots in my neck for neck pain without lidocaine, which is painful.  I will probably never never know what really happened.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Getting lidocaine for wisdom tooth extraction--felt the needle going in and woke up 45 minutes later in ER.  I had had a seizure!  Hundreds of shots for teeth over the years, never any such experience. Surgeon swore he found no blood in syringe and couldn't understand why I seized.  Swore he did everything right, never heard of lidocaine causing a seizure this way. Apologized profusely.  I'm now worried about completing the extraction, which has to be done.  Worried that others have experienced seizures even with a general.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Omg ! They lie . They gave you something wrong or too much of it ! Wow get a lawyer !
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Dental Health Community

Top Dental Answerers
Avatar universal
taipei, Taiwan
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
If you suffer from frequent headaches, jaw clicking and popping ear pain, you may have TMJ. Top dentist Hamidreza Nassery, DMD, has the best TMJ treatments for you.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.