Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CARBOCAINE versus LIDOCAINE VISCOUS.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CARBOCAINE versus LIDOCAINE VISCOUS.
CARBOCAINE vs LIDOCAINE VISCOUS
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Mepivacaine, the active ingredient in Carbocaine, is an amide-type local anesthetic that blocks sodium ion channels in nerve cell membranes, thereby inhibiting the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses.
Lidocaine is an amide-type local anesthetic that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav1.7, Nav1.8) in neuronal membranes, inhibiting depolarization and propagation of action potentials, thereby producing local anesthesia. It also has antiarrhythmic properties (class IB) by blocking sodium channels in cardiac myocytes.
1% to 2% solution, 5-20 mL local infiltration or nerve block; maximum dose 400 mg (or 7 mg/kg) per 90-minute period.
15 mL (300 mg) orally every 3 hours as needed for pain; maximum 8 doses per 24 hours.
None Documented
None Documented
2.0–3.5 hours in adults; prolonged in patients with hepatic impairment (up to 8–10 hours) or renal dysfunction.
Terminal elimination half-life is 1.5–2 hours (up to 3 hours in hepatic impairment). Clinically, redistribution half-life (~6 min) determines duration of action after short infusions.
Renal excretion of unchanged drug and metabolites accounts for approximately 95% of elimination, with less than 5% excreted in feces via biliary elimination.
Renal excretion of unchanged drug and metabolites accounts for >90% of elimination; <10% biliary/fecal. Metabolites include monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) and glycinexylidide (GX).
Category C
Category A/B
Local Anesthetic
Local Anesthetic / Antiarrhythmic (Class Ib)