How Do Ester Local Anesthetics Work?

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

Local anesthesia causes the 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.

Ester local anesthetics have an ester link in their structure and are mainly processed in the blood.

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

• Minor surgery
• Incisions
• Biopsies
• Dental procedures
• Obstetrical procedures
• Surgeries performed on nasal cavities
• Eye procedures

Ester local anesthetics can cause the following side effects:

• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Restlessness
• Tremors
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Blurred vision
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Epistaxis (bleeding from the nose)

Some of the rare, severe side effects include:

• Excitation
• Depression
• Seizure
• Cardiac arrest
• Slow heart rate
• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)

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.

Generic and brand names of ester local anesthetics include:

• Benzocaine
• Chloroprocaine
• Clorotekal
• Cocaine
• Cocaine topical
• EjectDelay
• Goprelto
• Nesacaine
• Numbrino
• Tetcaine
• Tetracaine
• Tetracaine ophthalmic