
Lidocaine may be used as a local anesthetic or in the treatment of arrhythmias. Lidocaine works by blocking the influx of sodium ions into the membrane surrounding nerves. This prevents the initiation and conduction of impulses along the nerve, which results in an anesthetic effect.
Which drug is considered a class 1a antiarrhythmic drug?
Which drug is considered a Class 1a antiarrhythmic drug? Class I: lidocaine, procainamide, propafenone (quinidine: rarely used) Class II: propranolol, metoprolol. Class III: AMIODARONE, dronedarone, sotalol, ibutilide. Class IV: verapamil, diltiazem. Click to see full answer. Subsequently, one may also ask, what are Class 1a antiarrhythmics?
What are the contraindications of lidocaine?
Contraindications. Absolute contraindications for the use of lidocaine include: Heart block, second or third degree (without pacemaker) Severe sinoatrial block (without pacemaker) Serious adverse drug reaction to lidocaine or amide local anesthetics
What is the first sign of lidocaine toxicity?
There are a limited number of reported cases of contact sensitivity to lidocaine. Click to see full answer. Correspondingly, what is the first sign of Lidocaine toxicity? Early symptoms are circumoral numbness, tongue paresthesia, and dizziness. Sensory complaints may include tinnitus and blurred vision.
Can lidocaine be used without epinephrine?
This practice enables the tissue ischemia to wear off more rapidly and still allows for optimal exposure of the wound. Plain lidocaine, without epinephrine, acts as a vasodilator and increases bleeding. Read the full article. Get immediate access, anytime, anywhere.

How does lidocaine help in arrhythmia?
Introduction. LIDOCAINE (Xylocaine) has become one of the most frequently used drugs in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, particularly those associated with acute myocardial infarction. It has been shown to terminate ventricular tachycardia, and it has been given to suppress multiple ventricular extrasystoles.
How does lidocaine affect cardiac function?
Lidocaine administered intravenously has been highly effective in terminating ventricular premature beats and ventricular tachycardia occurring during general surgery, during and after cardiac surgery, following acute myocardial infarction, and in the course of digitalis intoxication.
What is the mechanism of action of lidocaine and its antiarrhythmic effect?
Lidocaine is an antiarrhythmic medication of the class Ib type. This means it works by blocking sodium channels and thus decreasing the rate of contractions of the heart. When injected near nerves, the nerves cannot conduct signals to or from the brain.
Why lidocaine is ineffective in atrial arrhythmia?
The effect of the drug is short lived, but may be prolonged by using the drug in perfusion or repeatedly with an intramuscular method. Lidocaine acts by depressing the enhanced atrial focal activity, and therefore may be of value in the treatment of these kinds of arrhythmias.
Does lidocaine slow down heart rate?
Lidocaine did not affect ventricular conduction time at slow heart rates and had only minimal effects at fast heart rates. Methyl lidocaine increased ventricular conduction time at all heart rates.
Why is lidocaine used in ACLS?
Lidocaine is one of several ACLS drugs used to treat cardiac arrest from ventricular tachycardia (VT) and Ventricular Fibrillation (VF). Lidocaine is considered a second-line antiarrhythmic drug and should be administered in VF/VT cases where amiodarone is either unavailable or ineffective.
What is the purpose of lidocaine?
Lidocaine belongs to the family of medicines called local anesthetics. This medicine prevents pain by blocking the signals at the nerve endings in the skin. This medicine does not cause unconsciousness as general anesthetics do when used for surgery. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
How does lidocaine block sodium channels?
Lidocaine binds to voltage-gated sodium channels in a 1: 1 fashion and prevents the flow of sodium ions through the channel pore.
What is the mechanism of action of lidocaine?
Lidocaine can block Na+ and K+ ion channels and regulate intracellular and extracellular calcium concentrations through other ligand-gated ion channels. Lidocaine was the first sodium channel blocker to be identified. Its main mechanism of action is blocking voltage-gated Na+ channels (VGSC/NaVs).
Can lidocaine be used for AFIB?
Lidocaine has few of the proarrhythmic concerns of most antiarrhythmic drugs and, at high bolus doses, prolongs the atrial refractory period well enough to be effective in converting atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm. This finding has been previously demonstrated in a dog model.
Why is lidocaine the most commonly used anesthetic?
Lignocaine (lidocaine) is the most commonly used anaesthetic in the surgical setting. It is effective, acts rapidly and is relatively free from toxicity and sensitivity. It is available in many different forms, including topical applications (eg, EMLA® Cream and patches) and solutions for injection.
What class of antiarrhythmic is lidocaine?
Lidocaine is an IV class IB antiarrhythmic that increases the electrical stimulation threshold of the ventricle, suppressing the automaticity of conduction through the tissue.
Does lidocaine cause tachycardia?
Thus, we attribute the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia to lidocaine toxicity although the serum lidocaine levels could not be measured. Lidocaine is also a commonly used antiarrhythmic for ventricular arrhythmias. Cardiac toxicity of lidocaine is potentiated by acidosis, hypercapnia and hypoxia.
What are the side effects of lidocaine?
Side EffectsBluish-colored lips, fingernails, or palms blurred or double vision.chest pain or discomfort.cold, clammy, pale skin.continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears.difficulty breathing.difficulty swallowing.dizziness or lightheadedness.More items...
What are the contraindications for lidocaine?
Who should not take Lidocaine (PF) Intravenous?glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.low amount of potassium in the blood.methemoglobinemia, a type of blood disorder.myasthenia gravis, a skeletal muscle disorder.partial heart block.Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.severe heart block.Adams-Stokes syndrome.More items...
What is lidocaine mechanism of action?
Lidocaine can block Na+ and K+ ion channels and regulate intracellular and extracellular calcium concentrations through other ligand-gated ion channels. Lidocaine was the first sodium channel blocker to be identified. Its main mechanism of action is blocking voltage-gated Na+ channels (VGSC/NaVs).
What is a lidocaine?
Lidocaine - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic agent that is commonly used for local and topic anesthesia, but which also has antiarrhythmic and analgesic uses and can be used as an adjunct to tracheal intubation. It is a tertiary amine, and is a class Ib antiarrhythmic agent on the Vaughan-Williams classification.
Where does lidocaine ionize?
As with other local anesthetics, the site of action of lidocaine is at sodium ion channels on the internal surface of nerve cell membranes. The uncharged form diffuses through neural sheaths into the axoplasm before it then ionizes by combining with hydrogen ions.
What is the dilute concentration of tumescent anesthesia?
Very dilute concentrations, in the order of 0.05 to 0.1%, can be infiltrated subcutaneously in large volumes to provide tumescent local anesthesia, resulting in swelling and firmness of the site which may be beneficial for certain surgical procedures.
What is epinephrine used for?
The drug is commonly used for local anesthesia, often in combination with epinephrine (which acts as a vasopressor and extends its duration of action at a site by opposing the local vasodilatory effects of lidocaine).
Is lidocaine an anesthetic?
Continuing Education Activity. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic agent that is commonly used for local and topic anesthesia, but which also has antiarrhythmic and analgesic uses and can be used as an adjunct to tracheal intubation. It is a tertiary amine, and is a class Ib antiarrhythmic agent on the Vaughan-Williams classification.
Does lidocaine increase the threshold potential?
In cardiac myocytes, lidocaine slows the rise of the cardiac action potential during phase 0, thereby increasing the effective threshold potential. Lidocaine is 65% protein-bound to albumin and alpha1-acid glycoprotein in the plasma, giving it a medium duration of action compared to other local anesthetic agents.
Is lidocaine a weak base?
As lidocaine is a weak base with a dissociation constant (pKa) of 7.7,[2] approximately 25% of molecules will be un-ionized at a physiological pH of 7.4 and will be available to translocate inside the nerve cells, meaning that lidocaine has a more rapid onset of action than other local anesthetics with higher pKa values.
How does lidocaine affect arrhythmias?
Effects on arrhythmias. The effect of lidocaine on the frequency of premature ventricular contractions was assessed by observation of the oseillographieally displayed electrocardiogram and by review of serial rhythm strips. A beneficial effect was defined as a 50 per cent or greater reduction in the number of premature beats. In 19 patients a beneficial effect occurred; in 4 there was no response, and in 6 the results were equivocal. In almost all cases the initial rate of administration was low, and it was increased until an effect occurred or toxicity supervened. No patient responded when the rate of administration was less than 1 mg per minute (18 μg per kilogram of body weight per minute). It became apparent after the initial stages of the study that a precise measure of the frequency of premature ventricular beats was necessary in order to evaluate those patients who did not experience a marked and immediate response. Therefore, computer analysis was employed.
What is lidocaine used for?
LIDOCAINE (Xylocaine) has become one of the most frequently used drugs in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, particularly those associated with acute myocardial infarction. It has been shown to terminate ventricular tachycardia, and it has been given to suppress multiple ventricular extrasystoles. 1 , 2 The drug has been administered as an intravenous bolus or as a constant intravenous infusion. Although the use of lidocaine as an antiarrhythmic in postoperative cardiac surgery has been investigated, 3 little objective information is available regarding the therapeutic and toxic doses in patients with myocardial infarction. Its effect on ventricular tachycardia can readily be shown, but the evaluation of its ability to eliminate multiple premature ventricular beats is difficult because of the fundamental variability in the frequency of these beats over long periods.
What is the name of the drug used for ventricular arrhythmias?
1. Weiss, W. A. . Intravenous use of lidocaine for ventricular arrhythmias . Anesth. & Analg. 39: 369 –381, 1960.
How long does it take for lidocaine to stop ventricular tachycardia?
Twenty episodes of ventricular tachycardia, in 5 patients, were terminated by a bolus of 25 to 100 mg of lidocaine ( Fig. 1 ). In all cases the effect occurred within two minutes of the injection. In 1 patient the premature ventricular contractions were abolished by a bolus of 50 mg ( Fig. 2 ).
What is the most commonly used medication for ventricular arrhythmias?
LIDOCAINE (Xylocaine) has become one of the most frequently used drugs in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, particularly those associated with acute myocardial infarction.
Is lidocaine safe for myocardial infarction?
These studies support the widespread clinical assumption that lidocaine is an excellent antiarrhythmic drug in patients with myocardial infarction. It can be administered in doses large enough to suppress ventricular arrhythmias with minimal side effects. It has a rapid onset of action and can be administered as a bolus or by constant infusion. It has a short half-life in blood, 5 and its toxic side effects disappear rapidly when its administration is discontinued. 6
Does lidocaine cause convulsions?
There are 3 major side effects: hypotension; Central-nervous-system depression; and convulsions. We observed Central-nervous-system depression and convulsions, but no hypotension. The patients also had a number of minor complaints that may have been attributable to lidocaine – muscular twitching, vague visual disturbances, tinnitus and dizziness. Our studies indicate that the blood level usually associated with serious toxicity is about 9 to 10 μg per milliliter (equivalent to 75 μg per kilogram of body weight per minute, or 5 mg per minute in a 70-kg patient) although we noted convulsions at a blood level of 6.8 μg per milliliter (at a time when the rate of administration was 55 μg per kilogram per minute). Bromage and Robson, 8 who continuously administered lidocaine intravenously for short periods (up to several hours), reported that toxicity occurred only when the blood level exceeded 9 μg per milliliter. Foldes et al. 6 observed the toxic level to be 5.29 ± 0.55 μg per milliliter.
What is lidocaine used for?
In ACLS, Lidocaine is used intravenously for the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. (VT/VF) It is also useful for the treatment of stable monomorphic VT with preserved ventricular function and for stable polymorphic VT with preserved left ventricular function, normal QT interval, and correction of any electrolyte imbalances.
What are the causes of lidocaine toxicity?
There are several conditions that increase the potential for lidocaine toxicity: Liver dysfunction increases the risk of toxicity due to lidocaine being metabolized by the liver. Low protein increases the risk of toxicity because lidocaine is protein bound.
Why was lidocaine removed from the AHA cardiac arrest diagram?
Lidocaine was removed in the AHA Cardiac Arrest diagram to help reduce emphasis on the use of medications and place more emphasis on high quality CPR ...
How do you know if you have lidocaine?
It begins with numbness of the tongue, lightheadedness, and visual disturbances and progresses to muscle twitching, unconsciousness, and seizures, then coma, respiratory arrest, and cardiovascular depression.
When to discontinue lidocaine?
Discontinue a lidocaine infusion immediately if signs of toxicity develop.
Does lidocaine help with cardiac arrest?
The overall benefits of lidocaine for the treatment arrhythmias in cardiac arrest has come under scrutiny. It has been shown to have no short term or long term efficacy in cardiac arrest.
Is lidocaine bad for you?
Lidocaine should be used with caution due to negative cardiovascular effects which include hypotension, bradycardia, arrhythmias, and/or cardiac arrest. Some of these side effects may be due to hypoxemia secondary to respiratory depression.
