Lidocaine

[MrBrown]

While this may be somewhat simplistic; I was taught that it blocks sodium channels in the nerve fibres so that they are unable to transmit the pain "signal" if you will higher up into the nervous system and thus we do not feel them

I'd have to get my A&P book out and look at the nervous system to get all technical but I think the best analogy is like closing off the on-ramp to the freeway, you can't get on.

We still have SC 2% lidocaine (spelt lignocaine) for IV cannulation but I have never seen it used and it's 10x easier to just cannulate somebody rather than piss about with lido.

As for antiarrythmatic properties, well I can't say as that was before my time we use amiodarone and have done since 2005.

 

[Melclin]

We still have SC 2% lidocaine (spelt lignocaine) for IV cannulation but I have never seen it used and it's 10x easier to just cannulate somebody rather than piss about with lido.

For cannulation? Bunch of sheilas you lot.

We have it for combination with Ceftriaxone when going with the IM route in cases where u can't get an IV. So as you can imagine it pretty much just collects dust.

 

[MrBrown]

For cannulation? Bunch of sheilas you lot.

We have it for combination with Ceftriaxone when going with the IM route in cases where u can't get an IV. So as you can imagine it pretty much just collects dust.

We have it, never seen it used. The ONE time I have heard of somebody using it they said it was such a pain up the arse it was easier to ever use it again!

Can also use a little 2% lido to flush an IO prior to giving meds as apparently that hurts just a bit

 

[rhan101277]

While this may be somewhat simplistic; I was taught that it blocks sodium channels in the nerve fibres so that they are unable to transmit the pain "signal" if you will higher up into the nervous system and thus we do not feel them

I'd have to get my A&P book out and look at the nervous system to get all technical but I think the best analogy is like closing off the on-ramp to the freeway, you can't get on.

We still have SC 2% lidocaine (spelt lignocaine) for IV cannulation but I have never seen it used and it's 10x easier to just cannulate somebody rather than piss about with lido.

As for antiarrythmatic properties, well I can't say as that was before my time we use amiodarone and have done since 2005.

It doesn't block them totally, some still get through and thus it takes longer as the signal moves. Maybe the brain receives the signal and disregards it due to the time delay or some such.

 

[fma08]

I to have questions about this drug. I know its a sodium channel blocker and it is used for to treat arrhythmias. I realized that it slows conduction time therefore it may/should convert tachydysrhythmias.

However my drug book specifically says that it increases electrical stimulation threshold, which made me think it took more electrical activity to overcome the drugs effects. Which I believed was why the 1% solution was used to mitigate pain for certain procedures.

Know I also realize the 2% is used for cardiac. Question is, when using this 1% how does slowing the pain signal help with pain, if it is going to get there anyhow?

Thanks

It increases the threshold to above normal levels. So the "pain" will send normal levels of electrical excitement, but since those levels that were able to create an action potential before, they are no longer able to do so. So if the lidocaine is working properly, there shouldn't be signals going. It slows the action of the sodium channels (1), not the signal.

1: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/167309-overview