Articaine

Properties

Safety Information

Description

Articaine [4-methyl-3-(2-propylaminopropionamido) thiophene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester hydrochloride] has been widely used in dentistry since its approval by the U.S. FDA in the year 2000 because of its quick onset and short duration of action. The structure of articaine differs from those of all other amino amide-type local anesthetics in that it contains a thiophene ring instead of a benzene ring and a carbomethoxy group. This renders the molecule more lipophilic and, thus, easier to cross any lipoidal membranes.
Its local anesthetic potency is approximately 1.5-fold that of lidocaine, even though it has similar pKa (7.8) and plasma protein binding (76%) properties. Articaine also is metabolized primarily by plasma cholinesterases because of the presence of an ester group and, therefore, has a much shorter duration of action than lidocaine (i.e., only approximately one-fourth that of lidocaine). Articaine undergoes rapid hydrolysis of the carbomethoxy group to give articainic acid, which is eliminated either unchanged (75%) or as its glucuronides (25%). Compared with to other shortacting, amino amide-type local anesthetics, such as mepivacaine, lidocaine, or prilocaine, articaine is said to be a much safer drug for regional anesthesia and is the drug of choice for dental procedures.