Two extremely important things I bring to you:

[PCIntern]

As some of you know, I am a dentist, and there are two life-or-death issues which are not being discussed much since there are many more important things going on in the media such as Anna Nicole Smith (dead), Paris Hilton (brain-dead), and the size of Hillary's butt (who cares?).

1. If you are on any medications at all whatsoever, (and who isn't), check to see if you are permitted to drink GRAPEFRUIT JUICE while on the medication. This particular variety of citrus can either potentiate or nullify many meds, and depending upon the nature of the medication, could cause a big problem. Your blood levels of the medications may be greatly affected and BIG TROUBLE may ensue.

2. If anyone ever asks you responsibly if you are on any medications, and you are a male and have been taking any of the erectile-dysfunction drugs like Levitra, Cialis, or Viagra, DO NOT LIE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. I'll tell you what has been going on: it is not unusual for people under stress, LIKE WHEN THEY'RE IN A DENTAL CHAIR, to have chest pains. Now what does the professional do when someone has chest pains? He or she may call 911 in some cases automatcally, and then he or she administers nitroglycerine tablets sublingually (under the tongue). Now if you've been watching these ads for these medications, besides all the furtive, smiling whispers between interrupted lovers, there are little letters warning men not to take nitrate preparations while taking the drug. What will happen, is your blood pressure may drop precipitously, sometimes to ZERO, which is not particularly good for you. Lying so that your dentist, podiatrist or whomever doesn't think that you're trying 'shoot pool with a rope' as George Burns once said, may be the last thing you ever do.

Please spread this stuff around...we can't afford to lose any Dems before the election of 2008.

[MadMaddie]

1. Thank you for this information, I will pass it on to my friends and

family.

[karlrschneider]

2. "I'm not lying, I'm just happy to see you!"

:D

Just kidding, I'm sure that's sound advice but is this really a big problem? Do a lot of dentists
surreptitiously slip nitro under the tongues of their patients? That's pretty scary...
:scared:

[PCIntern]

3. Not 'surreptitiously'...

If someone's having CHEST PAINS, you have to help them. Unless it is distinctly contraindicated, it is standard of care to administer the drug. You don't not tell them...

I'm speechless...and YES it does happen. A professional office is as good a place to die as any. It doesn't just happen on buses or at home.

[don954]

5. Many EMTs do so too

when my dad had chest pains a few years ago, the EMTs who arrived gave him nitro after putting him on the EKG.. So, if your dentist doesnt know, he wont know to tell the EMTs if necessary.

[karlrschneider]

7. I wasn't being snide, I just asked if it's now protocol to administer

nitroglycerine without consulting with the patient. I apparently misunderstood your post and thought you meant it was done more or less automatically. What would be a typical contraindication, and why would nitro be a better choice in that instance than aspirin? I am simply trying to learn here. :D

[PCIntern]

8. I'm sorry,

you used the word 'surreptitiously' which usually means without the patient's knowledge or consent. But I take your point. Thanks.

[karlrschneider]

13. No problem, it undoubtedly sounded more accusative than I meant it to!

If I ever decide I need ...er, 'male enhancement', I'll keep it in mind. :D

[The Straight Story]

4. A kick for our resident Dentist! Thanks for the info. (nt)

[Lex]

6. A 55 year old friend of mine (otherwise healthy) dropped dead of a heart attack

a few months ago and he recently had sheepishly disclosed to me that he had been taking Viagra occasionally--'just to see what it was like' he said. Now I'm left to wonder if that contributed to his sudden heart attack.

True story.

I miss this fellow a lot, he was a good guy and a good liberal.

[PCIntern]

9. You're gonna hear this a lot soon...

and you're also going to hear about massive severe pulmonary illnesses in W. Long Island and the Boroughs of NYC.

[Divernan]

12. I've got family there - what 's the etiology for this?

Connected to the EPA coverup of toxic air after 9/11?

[PCIntern]

14. Yes. Lots of threads on this...n/t

[veness]

15. Sorry you lost your friend Lex. n/t

[Divernan]

10. Jack Nicholson in film "Something's Got To Give" gets into that.

He's an older guy trying to impress his new MUCH younger girlfriend. He has chest pains. SHe goes with him to ER and is standing within earshot when his medical history is being taken. He's asked specifically about Viagra. He gets this priceless grimace on his face, shoots a sideways glance at the girlfriend, and blusters "Of course not!" (or words to that effect). The young doc looks skeptical and says, That's good, because we're going to give you an injection of (whatever drug) and if you're on Viagra, it could kill you. At which point Jack fesses up. Later in the film when he is carried in to the ER with a second episode of chest pain, he immediately & loudly advises the staff that he's on Viagra, so "don't give me (whatever the drug was)".

[sakabatou]

11. Thanks for the advice

However, I don't need them.

1. I hate grapefruit and grapefruit juice/concentrate
2. Let's leave it at that.

[Ino]

16. some more advice...

Don't eat beforehand if you're getting nitrous oxide! Found that out the hard way :D

[PCIntern]

17. LOL...

The cuspidor stops up real quick when someone pukes into it. Our rule: You puke, you clean it up. It"s my only non-humanistic office rule. Otherwise we cater to everyone's peculiar needs.

You have no idea...