Lidocaine + sodium bicarbonate

Lidocaine + sodium bicarbonate is a combination used primarily to provide local anesthesia with reduced pain on injection. Lidocaine is an amide-type local anesthetic that works by stabilizing neuronal membranes and inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses, specifically by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium bicarbonate acts as a buffering agent; when added to lidocaine, it raises the pH of the solution, which increases the proportion of un-ionized (active) form of lidocaine available to penetrate nerve membranes. This can hasten onset and reduce pain during infiltration. The combination is commonly used in clinical practice for procedures requiring local anesthesia, especially where minimizing injection discomfort is desired[2][4][6].

Brand names

Xylocaine (for lidocaine)Lignospan (for lidocaine)

Other names

lignocaine + sodium bicarbonatebuffered lidocaine