THE SYSTEMIC ABSORPTION OF LOCAL ANALGESIC DRUGS

Abstract

Estimations of the plasma concentrations of lignocaine and prilocaine during epidural block and intercostal regional block show that higher plasma levels are consistently found with lignocaine provided comparable solutions are studied; that the site of injection is of some importance in determining the absorption of local analgesic drug; that, within the range 1–2 per cent, concentration is not important if a total dose of 400 mg of either drug is not exceeded and finally that the addition of adrenaline 1/80,000 is of value with lignocaine but possibly not with prilocaine.