Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 8/19/2010

Question
hello, my name is daniela and i'm 14. have a seizure disorder, just took an EEG in june but have not gotten results back yet. i'm having a dental procedure soon; was just wondering if there is a relationship between certain anesthesias and a pre existing seizure disorder, or if it could cause an event?

Answer
Daniela
That is a really good question. The answer is it depends....
If you are having a general anaesthetic then most modern anaesthetics are good for people who suffer from seizures as they tend to dampen down this response. However there are anaesthetics that can make a seizure more likely and your anaesthetist will avoid these.
However if you are having a local anaesthetic then again these are fairly safe. They can cause an increase in seizure activity if a large dose is injected intravenously (which is unlikely). Paradoxically you can use even larger doses of local anaesthetic intravenously to settle down seizure activity.
So ensure those looking after you know and I'm sure you will be fine.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson