The Elbow

Procaine-hydrochloride

Mode of action

Procaine is a local anaesthetic of the ester type.
It inhibits and blocks the transmission of impulses along nerve fibres
and at nerve endings.
The effects are reversible. The lipo-soluble anaesthetic base must
penetrate the lipoprotein nerve sheath before it can act.
In general loss of pain (analgesia) occurs before loss of sensory
and autonomic function (anaesthesia) and loss of motor function (paralysis).
The effectiveness of procaine depends on the concentration attained at the
nerve fibre.

Absorption and fate.

It acts after 5-10 minutes and lasts approximately one hour.
Procaine is quickly hydrolysed by plasma cholinesterase to
para-aminobenzoic acid and diethylaminoethanol.
About 80 % of the para-aminobenzoic acid and 30 % of the
diethylaminoethanol is excreted unchanged in the urine.
The remainder is metabolised in the liver.