Question

10. Although lidocaine is marketed as its hydrochloride salt, it doesn’t exhibit the same level of physiological activity as the free amine. The free amine is more lipophilic and diffuses across a neuron cell membrane more rapidly than the ionic salt, resulting in a more rapid onset of anesthesia. Therefore, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is added to a solution of lidocaine prior to injection. How does the addition of sodium bicarbonate promote a faster anesthetic effect?

Answer 1

Bicarbonate neutralizes the acidity of Lidocaine and hence reduce the pain

Step-by-step explanation:

Alkalinization by addition of sodium bicarbonate causes buffering of local anesthetics and hence produce faster anesthetic effect such as pain control, pain reduction while injecting the patient and faster onset of local anesthetics.

Lidocaine along with epinephrine results into acidic compound wit respect to subcutaneous tissue. Hence, when bicarbonate is added, it neutralizes the acidity of Lidocaine and hence decrease the pain.