RT Book, Section A1 Freeman, Brian S. A2 Freeman, Brian S. A2 Berger, Jeffrey S. SR Print(0) ID 1102567151 T1 Local Anesthetics T2 Anesthesiology Core Review: Part One Basic Exam YR 2014 FD 2014 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071821377 LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1102567151 RD 2024/11/11 AB Local anesthetics are used to provide intraoperative regional anesthesia and postoperative analgesia. Synthesized from the coca plant in 1860, cocaine was the first local anesthetic adapted for clinical use. Although quite effective, cocaine has significant limitations. It has addictive potential, can irritate nerves, and is still the only local anesthetic capable of blocking norepinephrine reuptake at postganglionic sympathetic nerve terminals. The introduction of lidocaine in 1948 began the modern era of local anesthetics.