Local Anesthetics

Question 1

How will you distinguish whether local anesthetics are esters or amides?

Answer 1

ESTERS have only 1 I in their names

(Tetracaine, Procaine, Benzocaine)

AMIDES have 2 I in their names

(Bupivacaine, Ropivacaine, Lidocaine)

Question 2

Which local anesthetics have the shortest half-lives?

Answer 2

a PRO finishes the race fastest

PROcaine = shortest half-life (1-2 mins)

Question 3

Which local anesthetic have the longest half-life?

Answer 3

at the end of the long ROPe

ROPivacaine = longest half-life (4.2 hrs)