Elin Lidocaine Hydrochloride Mechanism of Action

Pharmacology: Lidocaine Hydrochloride or 2 (diethlamino) -2,6 acetoxylidide monohydrochloride is a potent local anesthetic which blocks the nerve impulse conduction by decreasing membrane permeability to sodium ions, thus elevating the threshold for electrical excitability and stabilizing the nerve potential.
Lidocaine Hydrochloride 2% Injection produces a more prompt, more intense, longer lasting and more extensive activity than does the same concentration of procaine hydrochloride. It has excellent powers for penetration and diffusion so that anesthesia of adequate duration is induced rapidly over a wide area. It is effective even without a vasoconstrictor and it appears to be the anesthetic of choice for use in patients sensitive to epinephrine and its congeners. As it does not contain epinephrine, Lidocaine Hydrochloride 2% Injection can be injected into appendages like the digits, outer ears, nose, and penis, without causing vasospasm, ischemia, or gangrene. Being of the aminoethylamide type, it is also the agent of choice for individuals who exhibit hypersensitivity reactions to ester type local anesthetics such as procaine.
Lidocaine Hydrochloride is metabolized chiefly in the liver and is excreted via the kidneys both as free drug and as its metabolites. The onset of action is about 3-5 minutes and duration of action is 60-90 minutes without epinephrine.