How Do Amide Local Anesthetics Work?

Amide local anesthetics are commonly used for pain control during minor surgery.

Local anesthesia causes a temporary loss of sensation, including pain, without depressing the consciousness. It acts within nerve fibers to inhibit the rapid inflow of sodium necessary for impulse generation. When there is no impulse generation, there is no transmission of pain around that area. Also, there is a loss of sensation around that area.

Amide local anesthetics have an amide link in their structure and are processed in the liver.

Amide local anesthetics can cause the following side effects:

• Headache
• Pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sleepiness
• Infection
• Facial swelling
• Paresthesia (tingling and prickling sensation)
• Gingivitis (inflammation of gums)
• Hemorrhage
• Convulsions

The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Amide local anesthetics are used for preventing or reducing pain from:

• Minor surgery
• Incisions
• Biopsies
• Dental procedures
• Obstetrical procedures

Generic and brand names of amide local anesthetics include:

• Anecream
• Anecream5
• Articaine/Epinephrine
• Bupivacaine
• Bupivacaine implant
• Bupivacaine liposome
• Carbocaine
• Citanest
• Derma numb
• Dibucaine topical ointment
• Dr. Numb
• Epic
• Exparel
• H-releve hemorrhoidal
• Hawaiian tropic gel
• Lidocaine rectal
• Lidocaine topical
• Lidocaine transdermal
• Lidocare patch
• Lidocoll
• Lidoderm
• Lidorx
• Lidostat
• Lmx4
• Lmx5
• Marcaine
• Mepivacaine
• Naropin
• Nupercainal
• Orabloc
• Polocaine
• Polocaine-mpf
• Posimir
• Premjact
• Prilocaine
• Promescent
• Recticare
• Regenecare ha
• Ropivacaine
• Sensorcaine
• Septocaine
• Solarcaine aloe extra burn relief
• Topicaine
• Topicaine 5
• Xaracoll
• Xolido
• Xylocaine jelly
• Xylocaine topical solution
• Zorcaine with epinephrine
• Ztlido