Are eye drops harmful if you have pseudocholinesterase deficiency?

Answer 1

Yes! My ophthamologist put drops in my eyes--- Proparacaine and Phenylephrine. Immediately, I thought my head was going to implode, and I started to get weak, and weaker until I could not even sit up or speak. They called 911 and I was taken to hospital where I my arms and legs remained temporarily paralyzed for almost 14 hours. Slowly, feeling came back to my feet and hands. It took several weeks to recover from the episode. The neurologist saw me briefly, and his report to the ophthamologist reported "suspected pseudocholinesterase", thought I was never tested.

I have had several episodes with dental anesthetics, all caine products, with ephedrine and epinephrine (the pharmacist says these are all decongestants).

I an unable to take cold tablets - the ephedrine has the opposite effect on me. Actifed, Sudafed, Neo-Citran, all make me unable to walk. I have had many episodes in dental office where the dentist gave me lidocaine, epinephrine, novocain, articaine.

Finally today, the anesthesiologist at the hospital has given me an Pseudocholinesterase blood test in preparation for some future dental surgery in the hospital.

I'm still not clear about what I am supposed to do about this, but avoid most pharmaceuticals, especially decongestants, and numbing agents.