Final answer:
Ester local anesthetics are rapidly inactivated in the body by esterases through hydrolysis, while amide local anesthetics are metabolized slower and mostly involve the liver and renal clearance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The differences in metabolism between ester and amide local anesthetics relate primarily to their metabolic degradation pathways. Esters like procaine have an ester link which is important for hydrolysis, resulting in rapid inactivation within the body. This hydrolysis is facilitated by esterases, enzymes that break down the ester bond. Thus, ester-linked local anesthetics are generally broken down in the blood and liver and have a shorter duration of action. On the other hand, amides are not readily hydrolyzed by esterases, and their metabolism is slower, generally involving the liver enzymes and renal clearance for drug excretion.