Novocain: Full Drug Profile

Novocain - General Information

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]

Pharmacology of Novocain

Novocain is an anesthetic agent indicated for production of local or regional anesthesia, particularly for oral surgery. Novocain (like cocaine) has the advantage of constricting blood vessels which reduces bleeding, unlike other local anesthetics like lidocaine. Novocain 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.

Novocain for patients

Novocain Interactions

Anticholinesterases

Concurrent use of procaine hydrochloride and anticholinesterase agents may result in increased systemic toxicity since anticholinesterases inhibit the breakdown of procaine hydrochloride.

Antimyasthenics

Concurrent use of procaine hydrochloride and antimyasthenics may result in loss of control of symptoms of myasthenia gravis due to antagonism of the effects of antimyasthenics on skeletal muscle. Temporary dosage adjustment of antimyasthenics may be required. Also antimyasthenics may have anticholinesterase activity.

CNS depressant medications

Concurrent use of procaine hydrochloride and CNS depressant medications may result in additive depressant effects.

Hyaluronidase

Hyaluronidase may increase the diffusion rate of procaine hydrochloride, resulting in a decreased time of onset, but an increase in systemic toxicity.

Neuromuscular blocking agents (such as suxamethonium chloride)

Concurrent use of procaine hydrochloride and neuromuscular blocking agents may result in prolongation or enhancement of the neuromuscular blockade.

Sulfonamides

Concurrent use of procaine hydrochloride and sulfonamides may result in a reduction of the antibacterial action of the sulfonamide.

Acetazolamide

Concurrent use of acetazolamide and procaine hydrochloride may extend the plasma half-life of procaine.

Novocain Contraindications

Additional information about Novocain

Novocain Indication: Used as a local anesthetic primarily in oral surgery Mechanism Of Action: Novocain acts mainly by inhibiting sodium influx through voltage gated sodium channels in the neuronal cell membrane of peripheral nerves. When the influx of sodium is interrupted, an action potential cannot arise and signal conduction is thus inhibited. The receptor site is thought to be located at the cytoplasmic (inner) portion of the sodium channel. Novocain has also been shown to bind or antagonize the function of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors as well as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and the serotonin receptor-ion channel complex. Drug Interactions: Not Available Food Interactions: Not Available Generic Name: Procaine Synonyms: Not Available Drug Category: Anesthetics; Local Anesthetics Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved; Investigational Other Brand Names containing Procaine: Allocaine; Chloroprocaine Hcl; Diethylaminoethyl P-Aminobenzoate; Duracaine; Duracillin A.S.; Gerovital; Gerovital H-3; Jenacain; Jenacaine; Neocaine; Nesacaine; Nissocaine; Norocaine; Novocain; Novocaine; P-Aminobenzoyldiethylaminoethanol; Penicillin G Procaine; Pfizerpen-As; Procain; Procaine Hcl; Procaine Hydrochloride; Procaine, Base; Scurocaine; Spinocaine; Vitamin H3; Anticort; Absorption: Not Available Toxicity (Overdose): Not Available Protein Binding: Not Available Biotransformation: Hydrolysis by plasma esterases to PABA Half Life: 7.7 minutes Dosage Forms of Novocain: Tablet, extended release OralSolution InfiltrationCapsule OralSolution Intramuscular Chemical IUPAC Name: 2-diethylaminoethyl 4-aminobenzoate Chemical Formula: C13H20N2O2 Procaine on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procaine Organisms Affected: Humans and other mammals