Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NESACAINE versus NOVOCAIN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NESACAINE versus NOVOCAIN.
NESACAINE vs NOVOCAIN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Nesacaine (chloroprocaine) is an ester-type local anesthetic that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels in neuronal membranes, inhibiting the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses.
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.
Injectable local anesthetic: 1% or 2% solution, maximum dose 7 mg/kg (not to exceed 500 mg) with epinephrine, 4.5 mg/kg (not to exceed 300 mg) without epinephrine. Administer by infiltration or nerve block; may repeat at 30-minute intervals.
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 half-life: 40-60 minutes (rapidly metabolized by plasma pseudocholinesterase); clinical context: prolonged with hepatic dysfunction or atypical pseudocholinesterase
Plasma half-life: approximately 30–60 seconds due to rapid hydrolysis by pseudocholinesterases; clinical effects short-lived.
Renal: 90-95% as unchanged drug and metabolites (predominantly 4-hydroxypropycaine); biliary/fecal: <5%
Renal excretion of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and diethylaminoethanol as major metabolites; <2% excreted unchanged in urine. Biliary/fecal: minimal.
Category C
Category C
Local Anesthetic
Local Anesthetic