Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
Published on: October 16, 2013
Pharmacology of local anesthetic agents
Abstract:
Local anesthetic agents may be classified according to their intrinsic anesthetic potency and duration of activity. Procaine and chloroprocaine are relatively weak, short-acting drugs. Lidocaine, mepivacaine, and prilocaine represent agents of intermediate potency and duration of action. Tetracaine, bupivacaine, and etidocaine are highly potent, long-acting agents. The toxicity of local anesthetic drugs is usually due to inadvertent rapid intravascular injection or extravascular administration of an excessive amount. Intravascular toxicity is correlated with intrinsic anesthetic potency, whereas toxicity following extravascular injections is a function of physiological disposition characteristics of the various agents, such as rate of vascular absorption, rate of tissue redistribution, and rate of metabolism. The central nervous system is most susceptible to the toxic effects of local anesthetic agents. Signs and symptoms of CNS excitation followed by depression are the most common manifestations of local anesthetic toxicity. Cardiovascular depression may also occur following administration of excessive doses of local anesthetic agents or following high spinal or epidural anesthesia.
More Related Videos
14:52Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
Published on: January 13, 2018
08:16Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics
Published on: July 23, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Local Anesthetics: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Local Anesthetics: Mechanism of Action
Local anesthetics are amphiphilic molecules consisting of a hydrophobic aromatic part linked to a hydrophilic group by an ester or amide linkage. They are weak bases and are usually available as salts, which increases their solubility and stability. Once administered, LAs exist in the body either...
Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics
Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications
Cocaine is an ester of benzoic acid and methylecgogine. It is used to anesthetize and vasoconstrict locally. Currently, it is used primarily for topical applications. It is beneficial for surgeries on the upper respiratory tract, providing anesthesia and shrinking the mucosa. Cocaine in the form of cocaine hydrochloride is...
Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia