Local anesthetic

For the novel by Günter Grass, see Local Anaesthetic (novel).

Many local anesthetics fall into two general chemical classes, amino esters (top) and amino amides (bottom).

A local anesthetic (LA) is a medication that causes absence of all sensation (including pain) in a specific body part without loss of consciousness,[1] providing local anesthesia, as opposed to a general anesthetic, which eliminates all sensation in the entire body and causes unconsciousness.[1] Local anesthetics are most commonly used to eliminate pain during or after surgery.[2] When it is used on specific nerve pathways (local anesthetic nerve block), paralysis (loss of muscle function) also can be induced.[3]

  1. ^ a b "Types of Anaesthesia". nhs.uk. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Local anaesthesia". nhs.uk. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  3. ^ Greenbaum, R. A.; Kaye, G.; Mason, P. D. (July 1987). "Experience with nalbuphine, a new opioid analgesic, in acute myocardial infarction". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 80 (7): 418–421. doi:10.1177/014107688708000708. ISSN 0141-0768. PMC 1290901. PMID 3309298.