How does Lidocaine work?
Lidocaine is a bioactive molecule that works to block the excitatory conduction of the spinal nerves which causes them to stay in a depolarized state, hindering impulse transmission. Below is a video created by a nursing student from Mountain State that illustrates how lidocaine works.
Lidocaine and the Body
Lidocaine comes in a array of dosage forms, including injectable, topical ointments, and oral / topical gelatinous solution. Common strengths are 1%, 2% and 4%. One percent lidocaine means that there is one gram of lidocaine in one hundred milliliters of liquid solution. In addition to being a very useful topical anesthetic, lidocaine also serves as a cardiac anti arrhythmic. It can also reerect normal heart rhythm when injected intravenously when a cardiac emergency occurs.
Lidocaine is metabolized very quickly by the liver, and metabolites and some of the consistent drug are excreted by the kidneys.
Approximately 90% of Lidocaine administered is excreted in the form of various metabolites, and less than 10% is excreted unchanged.
When topical anesthetics are used in the mouth, the patient should be aware that the production of topical anesthesia may hinder swallowing and thus improve the danger of aspiration. For this reason, food should not be ingested for one hour following use of local anesthetic preparations in the mouth or throat area. This is particularly important in children.
Lidocaine is metabolized very quickly by the liver, and metabolites and some of the consistent drug are excreted by the kidneys.
Approximately 90% of Lidocaine administered is excreted in the form of various metabolites, and less than 10% is excreted unchanged.
When topical anesthetics are used in the mouth, the patient should be aware that the production of topical anesthesia may hinder swallowing and thus improve the danger of aspiration. For this reason, food should not be ingested for one hour following use of local anesthetic preparations in the mouth or throat area. This is particularly important in children.
Uses
This medication is used on the skin to alleviate itching and pain from a number of skin conditions such as scrapes, minor burns, eczema, insect bites and to treat minor discomfort and itching caused by hemorrhoids. Some conformations of this medication are also used to diminish discomfort or pain during fixed medical procedures/exams such as sigmoidoscopy or cystoscopy. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that works by holding back nerves from broadcasting unpleasant impulses to the brain, causing perishable numbness/loss of feeling in the skin and mucous membranes. Lidocaine temporarily relieves pain of the mouth, throat, or nose, and certain parts of the digestive tract. It may also be used in aloe vera gels and other ointments for relief of sunburn or razor burn.
It is NOT used as an artificial sweetener.
It is NOT used as an artificial sweetener.