What IV medication causes this side effect?

July 1, 2005 7:14 AM

When I had a c/section in 2002, I was given a medication through my IV shortly before surgery that caused a bizarre reaction. I'm possibly going to have surgery again soon and would like to know what this was so I can avoid it.

The medication was given via syringe through my IV and within 2 minutes I could tell something was wrong. I began to get very flushed and for the first time I literally felt my skin crawling. I asked the nurse what she had given me and she said something along the lines of "oh, you're reacting to blah blah blah" so I think it's a not unheard of side effect. I was very "antsy" and couldn't sit still, I had to get up and pace and finally I walked myself into the OR. The anesthesiologist told my husband and I that I shouldn't ever have that med again, but we've forgotten the name of it. Does anyone have any idea?

posted by hollygoheavy to health & fitness (11 comments total)

If possible, you might want to see if your obgyn would have that noted in your chart or contact the hospital where the c-section was done to have them check their records. Definitely try to track down the actual drug to which you reacted. Best wishes.
posted by onhazier at 7:20 AM on July 1, 2005

Don't be shy about going to the medical records department of the hospital where you last had surgery. It's that department's job to record and preserve (and keep private) everything that happened to you in their institution. If you have to, contact them by phone. They won't be surprised, nor will they bat an eye.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 7:24 AM on July 1, 2005

Go to Medical Records dept of the hospital where the surgery was performed. Ask to see, and get a copy of, the 'anesthesia sheet' as well as the 'doctors orders' for that day. If you can provide the date the operation was performed, this should be easily done.

Give the sheet to the anesthesiologist of the upcoming surgery and explain what happened.
posted by ikkyu2 at 7:35 AM on July 1, 2005

Seems you are allergic to the drug. Remember the name of the drug for life. You never know when you need to tell your doctor. You might also need to avoid all drugs of the same group.
posted by webmeta at 9:17 AM on July 1, 2005

Last time I had surgery they gave me versed.
posted by Medieval Maven at 9:25 AM on July 1, 2005

Based on the limited info, what you describe is most likely not an allergic reaction. It's more likely an adverse side effect. Regardless, like others have noted, the right thing to do is to dig up your medical record and let the surgical/anesthesia docs no about it. You can't be too safe.
posted by drpynchon at 10:25 AM on July 1, 2005

Could be something as simple as niacin (nicotinic acid), a.k.a. Vitamin B-3, which is well-known to have that effect. It's called the "niacin flush" and is caused by your capillaries dilating. Niacin is probably not itself the medication, but it could have been part of what they gave you to allow the medication to reach all the parts of your body.
posted by kindall at 11:15 AM on July 1, 2005

Seconds ikkuy2's suggestion. By the way it sounds like you had a side effect called akathasia. I don't blame you for not wanting to go through it again, its pure hell on earth.
posted by squeak at 11:51 AM on July 1, 2005

If you were still wide awake enough to walk into the OR after you received it, it was probably not Versed but it may well have been Midazolam, which is abused for the buzz it can give (a lesser version of what you experienced) and has the street name "Dazzle." I agree that you should check your medical records; Midazolam is frequently used during procedures that are done under "twilight" sedation, such as endoscopies or complicated dental surgeries.
posted by Dreama at 8:02 PM on July 1, 2005

No no, squeak, that's not akathisia she's describing; it's formication.
posted by ikkyu2 at 10:39 PM on July 1, 2005

I found out that it was Reglan (metoclopromide) which is used as an anti-emetic and has the side effect of akathisia.

Thanks everyone! I definately don't want to ever go through that again!
posted by hollygoheavy at 5:45 AM on July 4, 2005