Drug reference

Chloroprocaine

Local Anesthetic · Local anaesthesia

Also known as Chloroprocaine hydrochloride, Ampres

Local AnestheticLocal anaesthesia

CDSCO approvedSchedule H

EXCRETION

—

not curated

INTERACTIONS

1 major

SEVERE in our sources

PREGNANCY

Manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk (limited information available); this does not preclude use at term for obstetrical anaesthesia.

FDA category + note

Top interactions

Nitrous AcidSevereDatabaseDDInter

Mechanism

Chloroprocaine is an ester-type local anaesthetic that blocks the generation and conduction of nerve impulses.

Indications

Spinal anaesthesia for surgical procedures lasting 40 minutes or less (using 10 mg/ml solution) (specialist use only)Surgical anaesthesia for procedures lasting 60 minutes or less, peripheral nerve block (using 20 mg/ml solution) (specialist use only)Epidural anesthesia

Dosing

Adult: Spinal anaesthesia: 40–50 mg (max. per dose 50 mg) by slow intrathecal injection (dose depends on desired length of block). Peripheral nerve block: consult product literature for regional administration.
Max dose: 50 mg per dose (for spinal anaesthesia)

Pharmacokinetics

Onset

Rapid

Duration

Short

Half-life

Plasma t1/2 ~ 25 sec

Contraindications

Injection into infected tissues
Injection into inflamed tissues
Hypovolaemia
Impaired cardiac conduction
Intravenous regional anaesthesia (Bier’s block)
Severe anaemia
Application to damaged skin

Side effects

Common

AnxietyDizzinessHypotensionNauseaVomitingSensation abnormal (with intrathecal use)Anaesthetic complication (with regional administration)Paraesthesia (with regional administration)

Serious

Arrhythmias
Hearing impairment
Hypertension
Loss of consciousness
Neurotoxicity
Oral disorders
Seizure
Speech disorder
Tinnitus
Tremor
Vision disorders
Cardiac arrest
Drowsiness
Faecal incontinence
Myocardial contractility decreased
Nerve disorders
Neurological injury
Perineal numbness
Sexual dysfunction
Urinary incontinence
Headache (with intrathecal use)
Pain (with intrathecal use)
Motor dysfunction (with intrathecal use)
Respiratory disorders (with intrathecal use)
Spinal block (with intrathecal use)
Dyspnoea (with regional administration)
Respiratory arrest (with regional administration)
Prolonged sensory and motor block (with earlier formulations containing low pH and sodium metabisulfite)
Muscular back pain following epidural anesthesia (possibly due to tetany from Ca2+ binding by EDTA in newer preparations)

Pregnancy & lactation

Pregnancy

Manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk (limited information available); this does not preclude use at term for obstetrical anaesthesia.