Drug Groups

approved; investigational

Description

A local anesthetic of the ester type that has a slow onset and a short duration of action. It is mainly used for infiltration anesthesia, peripheral nerve block, and spinal block. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p1016). [PubChem]

Indication

Used as a local anesthetic primarily in oral surgery

Pharmacology

Procaine is an anesthetic agent indicated for production of local or regional anesthesia, particularly for oral surgery. Procaine (like cocaine) has the advantage of constricting blood vessels which reduces bleeding, unlike other local anesthetics like lidocaine. Procaine is an ester anesthetic. It is metabolized in the plasma by the enzyme pseudocholinesterase through hydrolysis into para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), which is then excreted by the kidneys into the urine.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

Hydrolysis by plasma esterases to PABA

Half Life

7.7 minutes

Elimination

With normal kidney function, the drug is excreted rapidly by tubular excretion.

References

External Links