For patients with anxiety, there are many sedation choices available. Nitrous Oxide is an excellent choice for patients with minimal anxiety. More apprehensive patients can use oral conscious sedation. Depending on the total dose given, oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate. For minimal sedation, you take a pill. Typically, the pill is Halcion, which is a member of the same drug family as Valium, and it’s usually taken about an hour before the procedure. The pill will make you drowsy, although you’ll still be awake.
Besides Halcion, there are other medications available. Patient’s health and duration of the procedure are the key factors in choosing the oral conscious sedation medication.
