What is the Difference Between Lidocaine and Lignocaine?

Lidocaine and Lignocaine are actually the same medicine, referred to by two different names. They are both used as local anesthetics and are popular with different names in different regions. The key points about Lidocaine (Lignocaine) are:

• It is an amide local anesthetic agent.
• Lidocaine (Lignocaine) is primarily used to numb a part of the body when necessary, such as during dental surgery, treating mouth sores, and getting stitches.
• The medicine is available in the market as a gel and as an injection.
• Lidocaine was formerly referred to as lignocaine in the United Kingdom, but the name has changed.
• The gel form of Lidocaine (Lignocaine) takes about 3-5 minutes to numb the applied area, which is advantageous in minor applications.
• Allergic reactions to Lidocaine (Lignocaine) may include swelling of the face, lips, palms, or throat, and difficulty breathing.
• Lidocaine (Lignocaine) has not shown any harm to an unborn baby if a pregnant mother uses it, but it has shown harmful effects on nursing babies when a breastfeeding mother uses the drug.

In summary, Lidocaine and Lignocaine are the same medicine with different names. They are both used as local anesthetics and have similar properties and uses. The main difference is the regional preference for the name, with Lidocaine being the "recommended international non-proprietary name" (rINN).

Comparative Table: Lidocaine vs Lignocaine

Lidocaine and Lignocaine are both local anesthetic agents and Class 1b antiarrhythmics, but they have different chemical and physical properties, clinical considerations, and toxicity profiles. Here is a table comparing the two:

Although Lidocaine and Lignocaine have some differences in potency and duration of anesthesia, they are both widely used in medicine and dentistry for their local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic properties.