Lignocaine (Lignocaine)
Overview of Lignocaine
Lignocaine is a sodium channel blocking agent, used as a local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic agent. It stabilizes nerve cell membranes to prevent impulse conduction. Used topically or by injection for local anaesthesia in minor operations.Intravenous injection or infusion used to treat abnormal heart rhythms. Excessive doses also block motor impulses and normal cardiac conduction. It has a low incidence of toxicity and a high degree of effeciveness in arrhythmias. Lignocaine is one of the least cardiotoxic drug of the currently used sodium channel blocker.
Indication of Lignocaine
Lignocaine is primarily indicated in conditions like Anesthesia, Caudal anaesthesia, Epidural anaesthesia, Headache associated with migraine, Infilteration anaesthesia, Intravenous regional anaesthesia, Local anaesthesia, Neuropathic pain, Obstetric anaesthesia, Severe hiccup, Toothache, Transtracheal anaesthesia, Urethral anesthesia, Ventricular arrhythmias, Ventricular arrhythmias, especially after myocardial infarction, Ventricular fibrillation, and can also be given in adjunctive therapy as an alternative drug of choice in Itching, Pain.
Contraindication of Lignocaine
Lignocaine is contraindicated in conditions like Heart block,Bradycardia,Congestive heart failure,Hypersensitivity.
Side Effects of Lignocaine
The severe or irreversible adverse effects of Lignocaine, which give rise to further complications include Allergy, Hypotension, Bronchospasm, Coma, Seizures, Hypertension, Tissue necrosis, Angina, Sinus bradycardia, Respiratory depression, Blurred vision, Tremors, Malignant hyperthermia, Neonatal depression, Cardiovascular depression.,Lignocaine produces potentially life-threatening effects which include Respiratory depression, Bradycardia, Convulsions, Hypersensitivity, Cardiac Arrest, CNS toxicity, Medullary depression, Tonic & clonic convulsion. which are responsible for the discontinuation of Lignocaine therapy.,The signs and symptoms that are produced after the acute overdosage of Lignocaine include Bradycardia, Hypotension, Death, Apnea, Seizures, Respiratory arrest, Cardiovascular collapse, Decrease cardiac output.,The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Lignocaine are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Dizziness, Headache, Drowsiness, Nausea, Vomiting, Anxiety, Restlessness, Palpitation, Nervousness, Tinnitus, Abdominal pain, Confusion, Tremor, Nystagmus, Abdominal discomfort, Twitching, nervousness.
Precautions of Lignocaine
Lignocaine should be used with caution in patients receiving anti-coagulant therapy, with genetic predisposition of malignant hyperthermia, hypovolemia, shock and all types of heart block, congestive heart failure, bradycardia, respiratory depression or impaired liver or renal function. The injection of lignocaine should not be administered in areas of inflammation or infection. It should be avoided if plasma cholinesterase concentration is low.