title: Emergency drugs.
abstract: There is universal agreement that dentists require emergency drugs to be readily available. Opinions differ as to the specific drugs that should comprise an emergency kit. This article has provided one opinion. Oxygen, epinephrine, nitroglycerin, injectable diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine, albuterol, and aspirin should be readily available in a dental office. Other drugs such as glucagon, atropine, ephedrine, hydrocortisone, morphine or nitrous oxide, naloxone, midazolam or lorazepam, and flumazenil should also be considered. There are differences in the level of training of dentists in the management of medical emergencies [25]. Therefore the final decision should be made by the individual dentist who is in the best position to determine the appropriateness of these agents for the particular practice. Despite the best efforts at prevention, emergencies may still arise. Plans to manage these events are needed and there is the possibility that the drugs discussed above may be required. Their presence may save a life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Discipline of Anesthesia, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. daniel.haas@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000322:Adrenergic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003729:Dental Care; D004358:Drug Therapy; D004630:Emergencies; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013256:Steroids; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000322:Adrenergic Agonists; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D013256:Steroids; D014665:Vasodilator Agents