Septocaine

Septocaine® is a branded dental local anaesthetic manufactured and distributed by Septodont. Articaine hydrochloride 4% with epinephrine 1:100,000 injection. Septocaine was first approved for use in Germany in 1976 and throughout Europe shortly after. Canada approved usage in 1982, with the US FDA following in 2000. Qualities such as fast acting nature and strength of dosage have made it more appealing for use by dentists than other available anaesthetics such as novocaine and lidocaine.

Structure and Metabolism

Septocaine is unique among local anaesthetics because it contains a thiophene group, and also because it contains both ester and amide groups. Septocaine is an amide anaesthetic due to the amide intermediate chain, and undergoes hepatic metabolism. However, the associated ester group also also allows plasma metabolism via pseudocholinesterase, purportedly increasing the rate of breakdown.

Complications

Serious complications have been associated with Septocaine. Long-term or permanent paraesthesia is among the worst of the reported side effects of Septocaine and occurs more frequently than with lidocaine

© Medic8 ® All Rights Reserved.