Lidocaine

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic and cardiac depressant used as an antiarrhythmia agent. Its actions are more intense and it’s effects more prolonged than those of procaine but its duration of action is shorter than that of bupivacaine or prilocaine. Lidocaine is an amide local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic. The physiologic effect of lidocaine is by means of local anesthesia. The chemical classification of lidocaine is amides.

Lidocaine is a synthetic aminoethylamide with local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic properties. Lidocaine stabilizes the neuronal membrane by binding to and inhibiting voltage-gatedsodium channels, thereby inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses and effecting local anesthesia.

Lidocaine is a white or slightly yellow, crystalline powder. It is very soluble in alcohol, chloroform; freely soluble in ether, benzene dissolves in oils with melting range of 66°c to 69°c.