This article reviews the uses, side effects, and risks of novocaine
Novocaine Uses
Novocaine causes numbness in a localized area for a brief amount of time. It is used for procedures that don’t require a longer-lasting anesthetic. It’s also used when people are allergic to amide-based drugs (a group of local anesthetic compounds).
The word “novocaine” is often used to describe various types of local anesthesia, such as Xylocaine (lidocaine), Citanest (prilocaine), or Septocaine (articaine).
Novocaine is administered via injection and used before medical or dental procedures that don’t require general anesthesia to put patients in a sleeplike state.
Novocaine’s numbing effects usually start within minutes. Its pain-relieving ability lasts about 30–60 minutes. Because novocaine is fast-acting and doesn’t last very long, it’s often used for quick procedures.
Novocaine is used during same-day procedures such as:
Cosmetic dentistry Filling cavities Dental extraction (e. g. , wisdom tooth removal) Removing moles or acrochordons (skin tags) Skin biopsy (removing a sample tissue for examination in a lab) Spinal anesthesia for lower body procedures lasting less than 60 minutes
Novocaine Side Effects
Novocaine is generally well-tolerated and comes few adverse side effects. The most common adverse reactions occur at the injection site.
The most commonly reported adverse reactions to local anesthesia include:
Cold sweats (diaphoresis) Dizziness Paleness or “loss of color” (pallor) Heart palpitations
Anxiety, flushing, itching, shortness of breath, and hives (urticaria) have been observed after administration of novocaine.
Contact a healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following severe adverse side effects after a novocaine injection:
Nausea Vomiting Trembling, shaking Asthma symptoms Difficulty breathing Anaphylaxis symptoms (serious, life-threatening allergic reaction) Seizures (convulsions)
Because epinephrine (adrenaline) is often mixed with novocaine to extend its duration of action, many of the side effects associated with procaine are actually caused by the epinephrine. For example, some people experience an adrenaline rush after being given novocaine. This is most likely caused by the epinephrine additive and is not an allergic reaction.
Novocaine Risks
Severe allergic reactions to local anesthetics like novocaine are extremely rare. At most, they represent less than 1% of the reported adverse reactions to local anesthetics. This means over 99% of side effects are mild.
Although novocaine allergies are rare, ester anesthetics do contain para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), which is a known allergen. Notably, a preservative (methylparaben) used in amide-based drugs is metabolized as PABA and may cause allergies. People who are allergic to ester local anesthetics should be treated with an amide-type local anesthetic without preservatives.
A small number of people have a genetic predisposition that makes it hard for their bodies to metabolize ester-type local anesthetics like novocaine. If novocaine isn’t metabolized, it causes severe side effects such as being unable to breath or move for a few hours. These cases require immediate medical attention.
Another risk of novocaine is self-injuring the numbed area after the procedure is completed when going about your daily activities. Always exercise extreme caution when eating or drinking if your mouth is still numb. Any body part that is numb from novocaine can accidentally be self-injured.
Summary
Novocaine is a broadly used term referring to any type of local anesthetic. Technically speaking, novocaine is the same as procaine, which is an ester local anesthetic. Today, lidocaine is more commonly used than novocaine. Most of novocaine’s adverse side effects occur at the injection site and are mild.
In extremely rare cases, some people can’t metabolize ester local anesthetics and may have a severe reaction to novocaine. If a family member has ever had an allergic reaction to anesthesia, be sure to share this information with your healthcare provider.
A Word From Verywell
Novocaine is a helpful tool that can reduce pain during uncomfortable or even frightening procedures. Be sure to discuss what, if any, anesthetics your healthcare provider may be using during your procedure so that you feel safe and comfortable at your visit.
