Which of the following is a common ester local anesthetic?

Procaine is recognized as a common ester local anesthetic. It was one of the first synthetic local anesthetics developed and has a relatively short duration of action. Ester local anesthetics, like procaine, are characterized by their ester linkages in their chemical structure, which make them more susceptible to hydrolysis by plasma esterases. This leads to a faster breakdown and shorter duration compared to their amide counterparts, such as lidocaine and bupivacaine, which contain amide linkages and are metabolized primarily by the liver.

Cocaine, while also an ester local anesthetic, is less commonly utilized in clinical practice due to its potential for abuse and side effects. Consequently, procaine stands out as a more traditional example of an ester in the local anesthetic category commonly recognized in pharmacology. Understanding the distinctions between esters and amides, along with their metabolic pathways, is crucial in anesthesiology and informs choices in clinical application.