title: Adverse drug reactions to local anesthesia.
abstract: A dentist's ability to safely administer regional anesthesia is essential for dental practice. Local anesthetic solutions used in the United States for dental anesthesia are formulated with several components. The contents of a standard local anesthetic cartridge may include an amide or ester local anesthetic drug, an adrenergic vasoconstrictor, and an antioxidant. In susceptible patients, any of these components may induce systemic, dose-dependent adverse reactions. Although extremely rare, allergic reactions may also occur. Signs and symptoms of the various adverse reactions associated with local anesthetics are quite distinctive, permitting rapid diagnosis and treatment. Serious reactions are extremely infrequent and, when treated properly, unlikely to result in significant morbidity or mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Finder
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D001835:Body Weight; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D062787:Drug Overdose; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D013447:Sulfites / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000975:Antioxidants; D013447:Sulfites; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D004837:Epinephrine