Guidelines in Buying Anesthetic

Anesthesia is a condition of unconsciousness induced in an animal. The three mechanisms of anesthesia are analgesia (pain relief), amnesia (loss of memory) and immobilization. The drugs used to attain anesthesia usually have varying effects in each of these areas. Some drugs may be used individually to achieve all three. Others have only pain reliever or sedative properties and may be used individually for these purposes or in combination with other drugs to achieve full anesthesia.

Curariform skeletal muscle relaxants or neuromuscular blockers (e.g. succinylcholine, decamethonium, curare, gallamine, pancuronium) are not anesthetics and have no analgesic effects. They may only be used in conjunction with general anesthetics. Normally, artificial respiration must be provided. Physiologic monitoring methods must also be used to assess anesthetic depth, as normal reflex methods will not be reliable.

It is essential to realize that anesthesia is not a simple thing. It has great effects on an animal’s physiology because of the generalized central nervous system effects as well as specific effects on all other body systems. Thus, while anesthesia is needed to prevent pain or distress in research animals, it must not be ventured into lightly.

It is safest to use standard formulas of anesthetic creams. With the standard formulas, it is easier to predict the systemic blood levels that will be obtained by use of the topical. Absorption of topical anesthetic creams is an adverse effect of the desired local effect. It is affected by the surface area covered by the cream and the duration of application. Systemic blood levels of the local anesthetic will depend on the absorption, patient size, rate of elimination, and type of surface (for example, mucosal versus extra mucosal and intact versus broken skin). The blood level of lidocaine approaches that obtained after parenteral use when lidocaine is applied to a mucosal surface.

For most topical anesthetic creams, the systemic blood levels reached with proper use are a small fraction of the blood levels that will produce toxicity. A good example is: 30 gm of Dr. Numb cream ( placed on a 400-cm2 area for 4 hours produce)

Peak blood levels of lidocaine that are 1/20th the systemic toxic level of lidocaine and 1/36th the toxic level of prilocaine. This makes its application very secure, with levels well below the concentration that would cause systemic toxicity.

When compounded (non-standard) formulas are used, it is much easier to get into trouble. Take the example (hopefully an extreme example) of the 22 year-old college student who died in 2001 from lidocaine toxicity after applying a 10% lidocaine and 10% tetracaine cream from her waist to her feet for her laser hair removal. Note the high concentration of lidocaine/tetracaine and the very high surface area covered.

Ester anesthetics, such as procaine and tetracaine, rouse the central nervous system, causing restlessness, agitation, and excitement, which may eventually lead to seizure activity.

Amide anesthetics, such as lidocaine, mepivacaine, and bupivaine, resist hydrolysis by plasma esterases and produce a more prompt and longer-lasting anesthesia. They result in central nervous depression, which can result in drowsiness, lethargy, and sleep.

Anesthetics are available at www.FinlandiaPharmacyOnline.com. Finlandia Heath Pharmacy is one of the most widely respected and trusted pharmacy natural health centers in Canada. Its goal is to help customers attain optimum health, vitality and wellness through traditional prescription services, complimentary natural and herbal remedies or a personalized blend of both. This pharmacy showcases over 20,000 products and ships worldwide. Through the years it has gained more than 75,000 loyal customers.

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