Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: LIDOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE versus NOVOCAIN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: LIDOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE versus NOVOCAIN.
LIDOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE vs NOVOCAIN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Lidocaine hydrochloride is a sodium channel blocker that inhibits voltage-gated sodium channels in neuronal and cardiac cell membranes, stabilizing the membrane and preventing depolarization, thereby blocking nerve impulses and exerting local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic effects.
Procaine, an ester-type local anesthetic, reversibly binds to the intracellular portion of voltage-gated sodium channels, inhibiting sodium influx and blocking nerve impulse conduction.
IV: 1-1.5 mg/kg bolus, then 1-4 mg/min continuous infusion. Max: 3 mg/kg (300 mg) loading dose. For ventricular arrhythmias.
Local infiltration: 0.5% solution, up to 20 mL (100 mg) per dose; nerve block: 1-2% solution, 5-10 mL (50-200 mg); maximum single dose: 7 mg/kg or 350 mg (without epinephrine).
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life is 1.5–2 hours in adults. In patients with heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, or those on CYP-inhibitors, half-life may be prolonged to ≥3 hours; in neonates, up to 3–6 hours.
Plasma half-life: approximately 30–60 seconds due to rapid hydrolysis by pseudocholinesterases; clinical effects short-lived.
Primarily hepatic metabolism (90% CYP3A4, also CYP1A2) to inactive metabolites (monoethylglycinexylidide, glycinexylidide); <10% excreted unchanged in urine. Renal elimination accounts for the majority of metabolite clearance.
Renal excretion of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and diethylaminoethanol as major metabolites; <2% excreted unchanged in urine. Biliary/fecal: minimal.
Category A/B
Category C
Local Anesthetic / Antiarrhythmic (Class Ib)
Local Anesthetic