Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 3/30/2008

Question
I had my wisdom teeth removed and told the anesthesiologist that I was allergic to narcotics violently so and I have asthma. When I went home I had heart palpitations and was hallucinating and had paranoia and blacked out several times. At one point my breathing was so shallow my boyfriend was afraid he would have to do CPR. He rushed me to the hospital. The day after my boyfriend called the dental clinic. They told him that they had given me keppra while under. I want to know why this would have been given. They don't return my phone calls. I also want to know how it would affect me in the future. I get odd muscle cramps all over my body randomly. Like the muscles freeze. I was tested for lupis and that was ruled out. Could the keppra taken under anesthesia have lasting effects?

Answer
I think you mean Ketamine. Ketamine is a phencyclidine anesthetic and does have the unpleasant side effect of hallucinations and paranoia (think PCP). I am surprised about the breathing because Ketamine actually maintains spontaneous respirations. The bad dreams usually go away in a few days and there are no long term problems. The cramps, etc, are not related to the anesthetic so you should seek other explanations for them.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston