Novocain

Novocain is a brand name for procaine, an ester-type local anesthetic developed by the German chemist Alfred Einhorn and introduced in 1905; it was marketed by Hoechst AG under the trade name Novocain. It was among the first synthetic local anesthetics and became widely used in dentistry and for minor surgical procedures to achieve infiltration anesthesia and nerve blocks. Procaine works by reversibly blocking voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve membranes, preventing the initiation and propagation of nerve impulses and producing localized loss of sensation.

Onset of anesthesia is typically within a few minutes after injection, with a duration of about 30 to 60 minutes for pulpal anesthesia. The effect can be prolonged when a vasoconstrictor such as epinephrine is added, which reduces systemic absorption and increases duration.

Procaine is rapidly hydrolyzed in plasma and tissues by esterases to metabolites including para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). This metabolic pathway contributes to a higher rate of allergic reactions in some individuals compared with amide-type anesthetics. Because of its shorter duration and potential for hypersensitivity, procaine has largely been supplanted in many settings by longer-acting amide local anesthetics such as lidocaine, though it remains in use in certain regions or for specific indications where ester-type anesthetics are preferred.

Historically, procaine played a major role in dental anesthesia before being largely replaced by modern agents; it remains a part of medical and dental practice in particular contexts.