Lidocaine
Lidocaine (also called xylocaine and lignocaine) is a popular local anesthetic often used in dentistry or topically.
Lidocaine is the active ingredient in Cloves. In fact, if one were to chew on ground clove powder, one would get a numb mouth. This is because of the lidocaine's local anesthetic effects.
History
Lidocaine, the first amide-type local anesthetic, was developed by Nils Lofgren in 1943 and first marketed in 1948.
Pharmacology
Lidocaine is metabolized in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. It is faster acting and longer lasting than procaine (novocaine).
When given intravenously, lidocaine is a class Ib antiarrhythmic agent and will block the sodium channel of the cardiac action potential. The half life of intravenous lidocaine is about 110 minutes.
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