- Amino esters
Structurally, local
anesthetics consist of three molecular components:* a
lipophilic part
* an intermediatealiphatic chain
* ahydrophilic (amine) partThe chemical linkage between the lipophilic part and the intermediate chain can be of the amide-type or the ester-type, and is the general basis for the current classification of local anesthetics.
Amino ester-type include:
*
Cocaine
*Procaine (Novocain )
*Tetracaine (Pontocaine)
*Benzocaine Amino esters, in reference to anesthetic agents, are rapidly metabolized in the plasma by butyrlcholinesterase to
para-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, then excreted in theurine . This suggests their very short ½ lives.Allergy is more likely to occur with ester-type agents, as opposed to amide-type.Reference
*UT Med School, Pharmacology Syllabus.
*Katsung. 10th edition. Chapter 26.
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