Procaine is an anesthetic used mainly for peripheral and spinal nerve block, it is an ester with slow onset and short duration of action, used mainly for oral surgery. Procaine has the additional effect of constricting blood vessels to reduce bleeding. It is metabolized in the plasma by pseudocholinesterase by the process of hydrolysis into para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) when is excreted through the process of diuresis. It's mechanism of action in mainly by inhibiting sodium flux through voltage gated sodium channels, due to this an action potential cannot be conducted. It binds to the receptor site in the cytoplasmic portion of the sodium channel, it also antagonizes N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), nicotinic acetylcholine and serotonin receptors.

Procaine References