Henning Hermanns, Markus W. Hollmann, Markus F. Stevens , Philipp Lirk, Timo Brandenburger, Tobias Piegeler, Robert Werdehausen
BJA Volume 123, Issue 3, Pages 335–349
Systemic administration of the local anaesthetic lidocaine is antinociceptive in both acute and chronic pain states, especially in acute postoperative and chronic neuropathic pain. These effects cannot be explained by its voltage-gated sodium channel blocking properties alone, but the responsible mechanisms are still elusive. This narrative review focuses on available experimental evidence of the molecular mechanisms by which systemic lidocaine exerts its clinically documented analgesic effects. These include effects on the peripheral nervous system and CNS, where lidocaine acts via silencing ectopic discharges, suppression of inflammatory processes, and modulation of inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission. Read More
