1. Local anesthetics work by causing a blockade of impulse conduction in sensory nerves.
2. Local anesthetics come in 2 general categories; those made with an “amide” end & those made with an”ester” end.
3. People who have allergies to local anesthetic agents, usually have an allergy to the “ester” type. This mainly has to do with the manner in which your body breaks down, or metabolizes, the “ester” type.
4. “Ester” type local anesthetics include: Procaine, Chloroprocaine, Tetracaine & Cocaine.
5. True allergy to Lidocaine (the most commonly used “amide” type) is exceedingly rare.
