Drug name: Novocain

Active Ingredients:

• Procaine

Therapeutic effects of Novocain: Due to its mild anesthetic activity, Novocain has been classified into a group called local anesthetics. It acts by impeding the neural impulses and their conduction through different nerves and their tissues. It also inhibits poly synaptic reflexes. The medicinal effect can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Care must be taken as overdose results in seizures.

Indications: Novocain is used to treat:

• This medicine can be used as epidural, conductive, Infiltrative, sub-arachnoid block (SAB)
• Vagosympathetic cervical and perineural blockade
• Terminal anesthesia
• Fissure and hemorrhoids at the rectal area

There are other conditions such as ulcerous disease where this medicine can be used.

Precautions and Restrictions: Avoid using this medicine under the following conditions:

• If you are increasingly sensitive to the ingredients of this medicine
• If you have formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in a tissue (Tissue fibrosis)
• Impairment of the conduction between the atria and ventricles of the heart (Atrioventricular blockade)
• Low blood pressure
• Bleeding
• Pyrexia
• Infection at the area of application of this medicine
• Shock

To be on the safer side it's best to talk to a doctor about the various precautionary measures and general direction to use Novocain.

Side effects of Novocain: Below mentioned are some of the adverse reactions that users of Novocain may experience:

• Problems of the central nervous system such as motor or sensitivity blockage, paralysis of the respiratory muscles, condition in which the nerves at the end of the spinal cord are compressed (cauda equina syndrome), nystagmus, visual and acoustic dysfunctions, lockjaw, convulsions, fainting, anxiety, weakness,, drowsiness, lightheadedness, headache, etc.
• Problems of the cardiovascular system such as angina, arrhythmia, bradycardia, collapse, causing dilatation of blood vessels, Change of arterial pressure, etc
• Urinary incontinence
• Problems of the gastrointestinal system such as fecal Incontinenc, vomiting, urge to vomit, etc
• Condition in which abnormal amount of methemoglobin -- a form of hemoglobin -- is produced (methemoglobinemia)
• Various allergic reactions
• Other side effects such as impotence, hypothermia, long-term anesthesia, return of pain, etc

There is no concrete proof that everyone using this drug will experience these side effects. For an exhaustive list of all the side effects caused by the use of Novocain, it's best to consult a doctor or pharmacist or the report supplied by the manufacturers of this drug.

Interactions: Before taking Novocain it is advisable to consult your physician and explain to him the treatments or medicines you are currently taking and also get a prescription from your doctor before starting any new drug. This is to make sure that the combination of the two drugs is safe. Novocain may react with the following medicines:

• Sulfonamides
• Cholinesterase inhibitors
• Medicines used to relieve muscular weakness (Antimyasthenic agents)
• Narcotic analgesics
• Muscle relaxants (Myorelaxants)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Substance that prevents coagulation of blood (Anticoagulants)
• And other local anesthetics

Additional Information: Novocain should not be used without prior approval of a doctor and do not share these drugs with anybody else. Novocain is made for specific conditions and it's not advisable to use for other purposes. Keep medicinal drugs, needles, syringes and other such medical substances out of the reach of children.