Mepivacaine hydrochloride is a local anesthetic available as sterile isotonic solutions (clear, colorless) in concentrations of 1%, 1.5% and 2% for injection via local infiltration, peripheral nerve block, and caudal and lumbar epidural blocks.

Mepivacaine hydrochloride is related chemically and pharmacologically to the amide-type local anesthetics. It contains an amide linkage between the aromatic nucleus and the amino group.

Mepivacaine Hydrochloride. This product was originally used under the name Scandicaine® for epidural anesthesia in cases of short, local surgical procedures. Mepivacaine has been on the market since 1957. More recently, it was introduced into dental practices under the trade name Scandonest™ 3%. The advantage of this product is that it is available without vasoconstrictor and preservative. Ask your dentist under which circumstances this product can be administered. The Bosscher Foundation believes that the lack of information from patients about this product could stem from the fact that it has not penetrated the Dutch market very deeply.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, and Impairment of Fertility Long-term studies in animals of most local anesthetics including mepivacaine to evaluate the carcinogenic potential have not been conducted. Mutagenic potential or the effect on fertility have not been determined. There is no evidence from human data that mepivacaine may be carcinogenic or mutagenic or that it impairs fertility.

Mepivacaine hydrochloride is a potent local anesthetic with effectiveness and safety that have been well established in human medicine and dentistry. Laboratory and clinical studies in animals have confirmed its value in veterinary medicine.

Its anesthetic activity is 2x to 2.5x that of procaine and is equal to or better than that of lidocaine. The compound has shown excellent tissue compatibility in laboratory animals and in horses. Moderate transient edema at the site of injection may occur in rare instances.

The articaine problem (for patients)

At the beginning of the 90’s, Marthe Bosscher came across a relatively large number of patients in her natural-healing practice, who were suffering from health problems, which were for the most part attributed to amalgam fillings. This is easily detected using the Dr Voll method of electro-acupuncture measurement (EAV). After diagnosing these symptoms, patients were advised to have their (metal) amalgam fillings replaced with less toxic alternatives and to contact their dentist. Alongside this advice, patients underwent a homeopathic detoxification program. The aim of removing the filling was to stop the long-term poisoning of the body. The detoxification program was designed to accelerate the expulsion of amalgam already accumulated in the body. For a long time, this two-track approach had much success in treating patients with amalgam problems. In 1994, however, the results began to be less successful.

After having initially been declared cured, a number of patients became ill again, weeks or sometimes months later, and more seriously than before. The outer symptoms were tiredness, food intolerances and allergies, and a general feeling fatigue. These symptoms sometimes occurred in combination with diarrhea, muscle cramps and tingling in the fingers and toes.

EAV readings shed no light on the matter. Not only did these patients return with a wide range of complaints, but these complaints could not be cured with the existing homeopathic programs. Referring patients to the dentist for an amalgam replacement also seemed to be having fewer results. Some patients left the dentists feeling more ill than they had ever felt before.

Meanwhile Marthe Bosscher began research into the sudden failure of her therapy that had been working so successfully for many years. During her research, she concentrated her attention mainly on the materials used by the dentist or dental surgeon, since she had not altered her own methods of treatment or medicines.

Finally, in April/May 1995, it became clear that the group of patients that returned with serious complaints had been treated with the anesthetics, Ultracain™, Septocaine™, etc. During follow up research, it appeared that patients treated with Xylocaine™, Citanest™ of Scandonest™ had no problems resulting from their treatment, had subsequently experienced no health problems and recovered better than those treated with Articaine.

The health problems experienced by patients treated with Articaine seemed to fall into two categories:

Neurological problems, disorders of the (central) nervous system. These disorders exhibited themselves as Parkinson’s (tremors), ME-type complaints, ALS and MS. Also included in this category are patients with muscle failure and long-term tingling in the fingers and toes.

Carcinogenic problems, cancer symptoms. Mainly cases of breast, prostrate and kidney cancer were detected. Some forms of breast cancer appeared, strikingly enough, 5 to 7 months after dental treatment, whereby women not only noticed that lumps appeared overnight, but that they then grew very fast. This form of breast cancer often seemed to be highly resistant to therapy.

The root cause of both these problems lies, in our opinion, in the use of articaine with patients with pseudocholinesterase (PChE) deficiency. The warning given with Ultracain™ in the information leaflet is very clear. It reads as follows:

“Ultracain may not be administered to patients with cholinesterase deficiency, unless there are strict indications for its use. This is due to a possible prolonged working effect of Ultracain in these patients and in some cases extremely strong effects”.

It is worth noting that not all information leaflets for articaine products contain such a warning. Septanest™ and Septocaine™, both Septodont™ products, do not contain unfortunately such a warning. Furthermore, no doctor can see whether or not a patient has a deficiency of this enzyme. This can only be determined based on a laboratory blood test and this is rarely requested by dentists, general practitioners or medical specialists. Only in exceptional circumstances does an anesthesiologist carry out an enzyme test when a plasma enzyme (pseudocholinesterase) deficiency is suspected, such as when using certain muscle relaxants during operations, e.g. succinylcholine.

Under “normal” circumstances, the articaine is converted into articainic acid in the presence of a plasma enzyme (pseudocholinesterase), is further broken down in the liver and finally excreted through the kidneys. Should articaine be administered to patients with no, or defective, enzymes needed for the decomposition of articaine and then the body will look for alternative methods to deal with this substance.

Research is being carried out into how these alternative methods of articaine decomposition take place. However, it is suspected that if plasma enzymes are unable to deal with the articaine, then liver enzymes will do this instead. During this process, it is quite probable that the articaine is broken down into a mutagenic substance, nitrohydroxylamine. If the body cannot tolerate this substance, then cancer can result.

How likely is it that somebody has insufficient enzymes to deal with articaine? According to scientific literature, it may be assumed that 1 in 25 Caucasians has such a genetic enzyme deficiency and is advised to avoid articaine. As a precaution, articaine is not recommended for use on anyone working in close proximity with or using substances that cause liver damage. For example:

- Painters:
due to solvents used in many types of paint
- Upholsterers:
due to solvents in glue
- Agricultural and horticultural workers:
due to organic phosphor compounds and organic phosphates
- Cattle-breeders:
due to organic phosphates (e.g. sheep dip)
- Addicts:
due to the use of alcohol and drugs

Furthermore, anyone exposed to heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury (metal fillings in teeth) is strongly advised to be very wary of using articaine, as the risk of liver damage is also present.

Advantages and Disadvantages of articaine

Advantages
Characteristic for Ultracain™ and Septocaine™ is that they are fast acting and effective in penetrating bone. The latter has not been proven scientifically but is the opinion of those who work with these products. When using Ultracain™ and Septocaine™, the patient no longer has to return to the waiting room to allow the anesthetic to take effect. During treatment, it seems as though Ultracain™ and Septanest™ are more effective than most other anesthetics. For these reasons, increasing numbers of dentists and dental surgeons are opting for Ultracain™ and Septocaine™.

Disadvantages
Articaine is dependent on cholinesterase group enzymes to metabolize correctly and in particular pseudocholinesterase (PChE), also known as ButyrylCholinesterase (BuChE). When there are insufficient levels of this enzyme or insufficiently effective enzymes in the body, Ultracain™and Septocaine™ are not broken down in the way intended and the body seeks alternative ways to rid itself of these substances. This alternative metabolic process leads to the formation toxic by-products, which can cause paralysis or brain damage. In some cases, these by-products attack the human DNA/RNA structure, which can cause the onset of cancer. The forms of cancer evoked by articaine are, in our experience, particularly aggressive and resistant to therapy. The cancer can be treated by means of chemotherapy, radiation treatment or surgery but tends to return after a while because the articaine that has accumulated in tissue, fat or brain tissue is slowly released back into the body. If the immune system has been weakened, due to use of medicines, stress or an unhealthy lifestyle, the cancer can return as a result of the steady release of unprocessed, or partially processed, articaine in the body tissues.

Dangerous Dental Drug Septocaine

 Editor: Jeffrey H. Rasansky, Attorney at Law

Firm: Rasansky Law Firm

January 17, 2006

By Jeremi Young

Comments (5)

Septocaine, an anesthesia used in routine dental procedures, may be a dangerous drug permanent paresthesia (numbness) and dysethesia (persistent pain) in patients. These symptoms are mild in most patients and may fade with time. But in other patients the side effects are permanent and debilitating

These problems typically occur when Septocaine is used for mandibular blocks, which involve injecting the drug to block pain in the lower jaw during dental procedures like a root canal.

A Texas jury recently found Septodont, the manufacturer of Septocaine, liable for misrepresenting the safety and effectiveness of the drug awarding over $300,000 to the patient for pain, suffering and medical costs.

For anyone who has ever had a root canal or even a toothache that wouldn’t go away, it’s not difficult to imagine how a jury might be angered by an irresponsible big pharmaceutical company that failed to disclose dangerous drug side-effects.

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured as a result of a Septocaine injection, please contact the Rasansky Law Firm for a free consultation by calling 1-800-ATTORNEY.

Comments

I had teeth extractedm 6-11, 13 & 31 in 2003 and by the 2-3 weeks I had a facial mask of numbness. In 2004 I hardly walk any more. I have constant body pain, headaches, and walking pains. For the sake of medicine this is what I get to live with? How dare any of them to expect a patient to lay down and take this crap. And what about the Laughing Gas, are they to blame also for a numb nose and the facial mask of numbness and all of this took my walking ability away? Look into the B12 issue here. Permanente Nerve Damage!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Joan at February 1, 2006 10:18 AM

To Joan,
please go to http://www.bosscherstichting.org
in regard to the damage by Articain (Septocain/Septodont).
Contact the foundation, they might be
able to help you find a cure.
kind regards, Yvonne van Vlaardingen

Posted by: Bosscher Foundation at February 3, 2006 12:34 PM

I received Septocaine on Aug 10, 2004 during a root canal procedure. Within 6 days, I had high blood pressure (lasted 3 months), an irratic pulse, chemical sensitivities, severe food allergies (still present) and excruciating, burnig pain in my legs.I also had severe cognitive problems. My nervous system/metabolism was obviously under attack. I had become allergic to everything I ate, sensitive to light and noise. Severe swelling of my face and large red welts had become my companions.

I presently live with severe nerve pain/muscle pain, especially in the backs of both knees and in my thighs. The bottoms of both feet are swollen and my lymphatic system does not operate correctly. I have/had insomnia, heart palpitations, anaphylactic shock, panic attacks, twitching of hands/arms and feet; I dealt with severe dehydration due to fluid imbalance in my body.

I still have cognitive problems which affect my professional life (what's left of it). An organic acid test revealed toxins and preservatives in my body that should not be there. My food intake consists of organic foods (even before the Septocaine incident) and we live in an environment of low toxic exposure. I was a healthy, fit person with great energy. I am a shadow of that person now, constantly in pain.
Dagmar

Posted by: Dagmar at March 14, 2006 05:51 PM

Come on...all this...from Septocaine? It's been used over 25 years in some countries. The laundry list of complaints I see here have nothing to do with the injection of a local anesthetic! It's no different than me saying I drank Diet Coke and then followed it with chocolate milk and now just LOOK AT ME!! LOOK WHAT THIS CAUSED!! The personal injury lawyers in these cases have a 90 degree uphill battle if these people are trying to claim on these symptoms. Can't we just stick to problems with parasthesia or dysthesia, perhaps..? Jeez..!!!

Posted by: Anonymous at April 30, 2006 01:22 PM

I had a stepocaine numbing and my toth got real numb but so did my nose. After I left the dentist my ears became numb and I lost my hearing for 3 weeks. I finally have all my hearng back but now I have headaches and contact dermatitis (my chiropractor told me this is what is wrong now). I have researched online about fibromyalgia and I think I now have that too. The people who make stepocaine should not make it anymore. It is a terrible durg that caused all these problems with me and my brain too.

Posted by: Trudy at May 20, 2006 06:46 PM