Lidocaine is a local anesthetic used in a wide variety of superficial and invasive procedures. It can be found under the brand names Agoneaze, Akten, Alivio, Anestacon, Anodyne Lpt, Astero, Band-aid Hurt-free, Cathejell, Curacaine, Depo-medrol With Lidocaine, Dermacinrx Lido V Pak, Dermacinrx Phn Pak, Dermacinrx Prikaan, Diphen, Emla, Fortacin, Glydo, Instillagel, Kenalog, Lido Bdk, Lido-prilo Caine Pack, Lidodan, Lidoderm, Lidopac, Lidopril, Lidopro, Lidothol, Lidotral, Lignospan, Marcaine, Max-freeze, Medi-derm With Lidocaine, Neo-bex, Octocaine, Octocaine With Epinephrine, Oraqix, P-care, P-care X, Pliaglis, Prilolid, Prizotral, Procomycin, Readysharp Anesthetics Plus Ketorolac, Readysharp-A, Readysharp-p40, Readysharp-p80, Relador, Synera, Triple Antibiotic, Venipuncture Px1, Viadur, Xylocaine, Xylocaine With Epinephrine, Xylocard, Xylonor, Zingo, and Ztlido. Ever since its discovery and availability for sale and use in the late 1940s, lidocaine has become an exceptionally commonly used medication. In particular, lidocaine's principal mode of action in acting as a local anesthetic that numbs the sensations of tissues means the agent is indicated for facilitating local anesthesia for a large variety of surgical procedures. Nevertheless, lidocaine's local anesthetic action sees its use in many medical situations or circumstances that may benefit from its action, including the treatment of premature ejaculation. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic of the amide type. It is used to provide local anesthesia by nerve blockade at various sites in the body. It does so by stabilizing the neuronal membrane by inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses, thereby effecting local anesthetic action. In particular, the lidocaine agent acts on sodium ion channels located on the internal surface of nerve cell membranes. At these channels, neutral uncharged lidocaine molecules diffuse through neural sheaths into the axoplasm where they are subsequently ionized by joining with hydrogen ions. The resultant lidocaine cations are then capable of reversibly binding the sodium channels from the inside, keeping them locked in an open state that prevents nerve depolarization. As a result, with sufficient blockage, the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron will ultimately not depolarize and will thus fail to transmit an action potential. This facilitates an anesthetic effect by not merely preventing pain signals from propagating to the brain but by aborting their generation in the first place. In addition to blocking conduction in nerve axons in the peripheral nervous system, lidocaine has important effects on the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. Some side effects of using lidocaine may include chest pain, difficulty breathing, and lightheadedness.

Lidocaine NMDA Anesthetic Pathway References