The following drugs may worsen the symptoms of post polio syndrome and should be avoided or used with caution.
- beta-blockers, e.g.
propranolol(Betaloc, Inderal, Tenormin);
- benzodiazapines,
e.g. diazepam (Valium), Ativan;
- othe central nevous
system depressants, e.g. oxazepam (Serapax), Mogadon, Normison;
- muscle relaxants,
e.g. orphenadrine (Disipal), Scoline, Atropine, Buscopan;
- some cholesterol/triglyceride
reducing medicines e.g. Pravachol, Zocor;
- local anaesthetics
e.g. Lignocaine, Xylocaine
- general anaesthetics
(all types).
Alcohol may also be
inappropriate for people who already experience problems with gait.
DENTAL TREATMENT ALERT - Show this to your dentist before treatment
1. PAINKILLING
DRUGS
The use of painkillers
like Asprin etc can and do cause profuse and excessive gum bleeding and
bruising. These and other blood thinning drugs may need to be cut
back or stopped some days prior to dental treatment. Ask your dentist
or doctor about this beforehand.
2. DYSPHAGIA
Polio survivors may
experience some degree of swallowing weakness. Medications used to
numb or block the nerves to back teeth and effect the surrounding areas
can interfere with their ability to swallow and may cause choking.
3. LOCAL
ANAESTHETIC AMOUNTS
Some polio survivors
have reported needing larger than normal amounts of local anaesthetic to
numb pain. This may be due to hypersensitivity of nerve endings.
Large amounts of local anaesthetic can affect tongue and swallowing movements
so discuss.
4. RECOVERY
TIME
Polio Survivors often
take three times longer to recover from any kind of surgery than non polio
people. This may equally apply to dental surgery as it does to general
surgery.
5. ANTI CHOLESTEROL
DRUGS
Polio patients on
cholesterol reducing medications such as LOPID or MEVACOR, need to be aware
they cause muscle deterioration. Most doctors are unaware of this
fact when prescribing.
6.
BREATHING CONSIDERATIONS
Dentists need to
be aware of any breathing difficulties you are likely to encounter.
You may be uncomfortable reclined completely in the dental chair and he
may need to adjust accordingly. Holding the mouth open for long periods
may fatigue oral muscles. Throat muscles may weaken allowing
leakage of saliva, leading to difficulties maintaining clear airways to
breath.
OPTHAMOLOGIST ALERT - Polio reacts to Eyedrops
One of our members sent me an interesting story from the internet which we may take as a warning to be ever vigilant.
20/9/2000 posted on a polio website by Nancy Carter
"About 2 months ago I went for a routine eye exam at my ophthalmologist's. Immediately after having drops put in my eyes to dilate my pupils, I became very weak and had trouble sitting up. (polio affects my upper body most - trunk, arms, neck) Then my entire right side - my weakest side - became extremely weak, from my tongue to my toes and remained that way for a couple of weeks. I couldn't believe it! I had never had this problem before. And certainly it had never occurred to me that one drop in each eye could cause anything this extensive. When I finally figured out that this sudden paralysis was directly related to the eye drops, I called the doctor to ask what the drops were. I was shocked to learn they were a muscle relaxant. I don't know what I thought caused eyes to dilate but it certainly never crossed my mind that I could have this sort of reaction to eye drops. So maybe I have learnt my lesson. As I am extremely sensitive to all medication, I must question everything before I allow it to be given in future." Nancy Carter