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Local Anesthetics

Local anesthesia is an injection of a nerve-numbing, pain-killing substance that doctors administer to a particular area of the body. Unlike general anesthesia, which numbs the entire body and brain, local anesthesia allows the patient to stay conscious and alert while a procedure is performed.

Types of Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia comes in several different forms, each of which are used to treat different, but specific, health issues. These types of local anesthesia are:

• Dental Anesthetics: These are administered during dental treatments or to relieve pain in the mouth or throat. While some of these anesthetics are available by prescription, others are available over the counter.
  
  
• Injectable Anesthetics: Given by injection during medical procedures, injectable anesthetics can only be administered by a trained professional.
  
  
• Ophthalmic Anesthetics: These are anesthetics for eye procedures and can only be administered by a trained professional.
  
  
• Topical Anesthetics: Absorbed through the skin, topical anesthetics are typically over-the-counter ointments or creams.

Uses of Local Anesthetics

With so many different types of anesthetics available, there are a number of medical uses for them. For example, local anesthetics are used to numb an area of the body while a doctor operates or performs a procedure on a specific part of the body. Similarly, local anesthetics may be used outside of the operating room to treat and reduce chronic pain. Doctors also use local anesthetics for:

• arm, hand, leg or foot surgery
• biopsies
• eye surgery
• insect bites, poison ivy
• mouth sores such as cold sores or canker sores
• small scratches and cuts
• sore throat
• sunburn
• urinary tract surgery.

Advantages of Local Anesthetics

Using local anesthetics when possible presents a number of advantages to the patient. Patients can:

• avoid losing consciousness as they would if they and their doctors opted for general anesthetics
• avoid unpleasant side effects of general anesthesia, including respiratory problems, hypertension and an increase in heart rate
• receive long-lasting pain relief
• reduce blood loss.

Side Effects of Local Anesthesia

Like any type of drug, local anesthetics do come with their own associated side effects. In general, however, side effects are rare and usually minimal. Some of the possible side effects that can occur with local anesthetics include:

• anxiety or nervousness
• blurred vision
• breathing problems
• confusion
• convulsions
• drowsiness or dizziness
• feeling cold, hot or numb
• hives or swelling
• severe headache
• slow or irregular heartbeat.