Local Anesthetics

Question 1

Local anesthetic: Definition

Answer 1

Drugs that are used to reversibly block nerve conduction in a particular region of the body

Question 2

T/F All local anesthetics may be considered as synthetic analogs of cocaine.

Answer 2

TRUE

Question 3

What are the different methods of local anesthetic administration?

Answer 3

(1) Topical administration
(2) Epidural block
(3) Nerve block
(4) Infiltration/Injection

Question 4

Pertaining to molecular properties: What are the 3 parts of local anesthetics?

Answer 4

(1) An ionizable “head” group
(2) ester or amide group
(3) non-polar “tail” usually containing a phenyl ring

Question 5

T/F Clinically used local anesthetics are weak acids.

Answer 5

FALSE; weak bases usually containing a tertiary amino group (pKa range 7.5-9) as hydrophilic, cationic group