Diazepam? Dentist? Phobia!?

[TheGreenJoker]

I was given some diazepam to help with my fear of the dentist, is it good? Will it really help? Going dentist for the first time in years tomorrow!!! Thankyou . Anyone else in same boat ? With phobias?

Yes & yes. I also have Parkinson’s, shaking is mandatory 🤣 take them an hour before, you’ll feel more relaxed 💪🏻

I wasn’t afraid of the dentist until I had a bad experience. My dentist is lovely and I’ve had him since around 1992. He told me recently they won’t prescribe diazepam for dental work now so I’m glad you were able to get some where you are. I had to have done work done and had some diazepam left over from something else years before that was still in date. I took one an hour before the appointment and it did help. Put it this way, I wasn’t numb due to how my facial nerves run in a weird way and I was able to cope with an hour in the chair.
Does your dentist know about your phobia? If not then tell him/her. Are you comfortable and trusting with your dentist? Having someone you trust is important. Can a friend or relative go with you? If you haven’t been for years then is it just a check up? If so, it will be a very short appointment.
My tried and trusted method is to focus on breathing slowly and steadily and to fix my eyes on something on the ceiling. It helps a great deal. My son takes a soft toy with him and quite honestly I’ve been tempted too.
You can do this

My daughter was prescribed them to take before dental treatment. She was told to take one before she went to sleep (I think) and one when she woke up (approximately an hour before treatment.

She was advised by the dentist to wear headphones and play music during the treatment.

Oh it really works. I’d never had anything like it before so didn’t know what to expect and I just felt completely like my normal self but totally unbothered about the appointment. I couldn’t understand why I’d been so worked up about it, Got through the appointment so easily. Back to normal ARRRRGHHHH feelings about the dentist once the drugs wore off! 😆

My mum has a horrendous dentist phobia and gag reflex. Mum uses diazepam before every appointment and honestly it’s the best thing she’s ever done. Been using it for three years now and takes it about 45 minutes to an hour before the appointment.

Yes, I’ve had it for dental procedures and it helps. Within twenty minutes of taking it I genuinely didn’t care that I was having a root canal - I was awake and talking and aware of what was going on but I didn’t feel any anxiety or any other feelings really. It was like I was just emotionally numb and very much “whatever” about it all. I had a fairly big dose the first couple of times I needed treatment, a lower dose once and then I didn’t need it any more. I still get worried and upset about dental stuff but it’s no longer blind panic and it’s manageable now that I’ve had procedures a couple of times and it’s been ok.

I’d also second the poster above - while I found drugs helpful to get over the initial hurdles I also needed a sympathetic dentist who I trusted and who listened and stopped when I said something hurt.

how much shall I take? I have a box full and unsure how much to take???

What strength are they and how's your tolerance for medications?

When you said “given” I assumed you meant prescribed by either a doctor or your dentist. In which case take the dose prescribed.

If you mean you’ve got hold of it by some other means like it’s your friend’s or something then don’t take it. Get it prescribed properly, and if it wasn’t prescribed by the dentist make sure the dentist knows you have taken it. It’s a class C drug and illegal for you to have if it’s not prescribed to you - anyone advising you on how to take it is being irresponsible and you’d be stupid to take dosage advice from mumsnet.

My dentist prescribes me one very low dose diazepam tablet for big fillings etc. It doesn't seem to make much difference, I just tend to go quiet on the journey there, but it takes the edge off my fear, enough to get me through the procedure.

My GP said they couldn't prescribe it, as did a previous dentist, but the last 2 dentists said of course they can!

Who gave it to you? If your GP and dentist prescribed it then they will have told you how much to take and it will be on the label on the box.
What Strength are they? Diazepam tablets come in different strengths. If you’ve been given them by someone else and not had them prescribed for you then don’t take any of them. Seriously, you don’t sound like you know what you’re doing and these are powerful tranquillisers.

Talk to the dentist. Take headphones
I ask them to talk me through what they’re doing as it makes me more relaxed knowing what to expect, also if I put my hand up they will stop
I’ve gone from being absolutely petrified to being able to have a wisdom tooth out with just local anaesthetic

How have you got "a box full" with no idea how to take them?

I have a valium fir certain medical procedures I have to have which I find traumatic. It really helps don't drive though!

How did your appointment go today op?

Cancelled it. Too scared sadly