New Drug Reverses Dentists' Anesthesia

(WebMD)  The FDA has approved OraVerse, the first drug indicated for reversing the effects of local anesthesia used by dentists.

According to Novalar Pharmaceuticals, the drug company that makes OraVerse, the FDA approved OraVerse's use in adults and children based on several clinical studies in which patients got an injection of OraVerse or a placebo after undergoing dental procedures under local anesthetics.

In the clinical studies, the patients who got OraVerse regained normal sensation in their lips faster than those who got the placebo. Within an hour after getting OraVerse, 41% of the patients had normal sensation in their lower lip, compared with 7% of those who got the placebo. And 59% of the OraVerse patients regained normal sensation in their upper lip within an hour after getting OraVerse, compared with 12% of those who got the placebo.

A Novalar news release states that no serious side effects were seen in the clinical studies; the most common side effect was pain at the injection site.

Novalar notes that although fast heart rate (tachycardia) and cardiac arrhythmia may occur when drugs like OraVerse are given intravenously, such problems are uncommon when OraVerse is injected into the gums.

OraVerse isn't recommended for use in children younger than 6 or children under 33 pounds.
By Miranda Hitti
Reviewed by Louise Chang
©2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved

[justme68]

I have to tell you, I just used this product . My wife was recently laid off and therefore I am the sole income in our household. I am not able to afford to take much time off from work and when my dentist offerred this to me, I was hesitant at first but decided to try it, i kid you not the numbness was gone in 15 minutes and I was back to work without losing any pay . So, for some of us this drug can be beneficial .

[mbburch06]

"A drug laced with side effects to reverse a drug laced with side effects, way to go Big Pharma. Please keep the poisons coming."

Did you idiots read the article? The most common side effect was pain at the injection site, which is probably due to the needle and has nothing to do with the medication. So essentially the drug itself has no side effects at all. Quit demonizing "Big Pharma." If you don''t want a drug, no one is forcing you to buy it.

[gaye5]

Oh for goodness sake, why push another drug into the body when time gets rid of the effect anyway, OH i forgot, more money for the drug companies... When will people wake up to the dangers being pumped into them every day under the guise of helping us..

[rushman71]

OraVerse?!?!?! We don''t need no stinkin'' OraVerse!!!!

[rational_1]

I agree with the other posters - not much justification provided for why this drug is that useful or even desirable (yippee I get to feel pain sooner!).

[rikedoid]

This is news? Gimme a break. It''s more like an ad. If you can''t wait for the freezing to wear off, you deserve whatever side effects and extra cost this stuff will provide.

[baileyccc]

A drug laced with side effects to reverse a drug laced with side effects, way to go Big Pharma. Please keep the poisons coming.

[erasmus81]

It only takes, what? 2 or 3 hours anyway?? Posted by gopsux at 08:04 PM : May 12, 2008

Well I don''t know about you, but it takes like six hours for my mouth to return to normal.

[magoo2u1]

Hey, keep it. I can wait for the pain to return and save the money. If I need to give a speech that day I will postpone it or the dental work.
Where can I score some of that placebo stuff?

[rf35]

Why:

...would people want this?

...is it newsworthy?

...does CBS advertise for Novalar Pharmaceuticals?