Ketamine 
- Causes a dissociative anesthesia.
- Is similar to but less potent than phencyclidine.
- Induces amnesia, analgesia, catalepsy and anesthesia, but does not induce convulsions.
- The principal disadvantage of ketamine is its adverse psychic effects during emergence from anesthesia. These include: hallucinations, changes in mood and body image.
- During anesthesia, many of the protective reflexes are maintained, such as laryngeal, pharyngeal, eyelid and corneal reflexes.
- Muscle relaxation is poor.
- It is not indicated for intracranial operations because it increases cerebrospinal fluid pressure.
- Respiration is well maintained.
- Arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, and heart rate are all elevated.

PHARMACOLOGY OF VASOCONSTRICTORS

All local anesthetics currently used in dentistry today produce some degree of vasodilatation. This

characteristic results in the increased vascularity of the injected site and results in a shorter duration of local

anesthetic action due enhanced uptake of the local anesthetic into the bloodstream.

- Using a “chemical tourniquet” to prolong the effect of local anesthetics

- The vasoconstrictive action of epinephrine reduces uptake of local anesthetic resulting in a significant increase in the duration of local anesthetic action.

- the addition of vasoconstrictors in local anesthetic solutions will:

1. Prolong the effect of the local anesthetic

2. Increase the depth of anesthesia

3. Reduces the plasma concentration of the local anesthetic

4. Reduces the incidence of systemic toxicity

5. Reduces bleeding at surgical site

Local anesthetics containing epinephrine produce:

1. Localized

VASOCONSTRICTION MEDIATED BY ALPHA RECEPTOR ACTIVATION

 i. Hemostasis at surgical site

 ii. Ischemia of localized tissue

2. Systemic

HEART

 i. Increased heart rate (β1)

 ii. Increased force and rate of contraction (β 1)

 iii. Increased cardiac output

 iv. Increases oxygen demand

 v. Dilation of coronary arteries

 vi. Decreases threshold for arrhythmias 

LUNGS

 i. Bronchodilation (β2 )

SKELETAL MUSCLE
i. Predominately vasodilation (fight or flight response) (β 2 )

CNS

i. Minimal direct effect due to difficulty in crossing the blood-brain barrier. Most effects on the CNS are manifestations of the vasoconstrictor on other organs such as the heart.

Concentrations of vasoconstrictors

1. Epinephrine The most commonly used epinephrine dilution in dentistry today is 1:100000. However it appears that a 1:200000 concentration is comparable in effect to the 1:100000 concentration.

2. Levonordefrin Levonordefrin is a synthetic compound very similar in structure to epinephrine. It is the only alternate choice of vasoconstrictor to epinephrine. It is prepared as a 1:20000 (0.05mg/ml)(50 mcg/ml) concentration with 2 % mepivacaine.

Cardiovascular considerations

The plasma concentration of epinephrine in a patient at rest is 39 pg/ml.1 The injection of 1 cartridge of lidocaine 1:100000 epinephrine intraorally results in a doubling of the plasma concentration of epinephrine.

The administration of 15 mcg of epinephrine  increased heart rate an average of 25 beats/min with some individuals experiencing an increase of 70 beats/min.

Clinical considerations

It is well documented that reduced amounts of epinephrine should be administered to patients with:

HEART DISEASE (ANGINA HISTORYOF MI)

POORLY CONTROLLED HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

It is generally accepted that the dose of epinephrine should be limited to 0.04 mg (40 mcg) for patients that have these medical diagnoses

α-glucosidase inhibitors
 
acarbose
miglitol

Mechanism

inhibit α-glucosidases in intestinal brush border
delayed sugar hydrolysis
delayed glucose absorption
↓ postprandial hyperglycemia
↓ insulin demand

Clinical use

type II DM
as monotherapy or in combination with other agents

Methadone

Pharmacology and analgesic potency similar to morphine.

• Very effective following oral administration.
• Longer duration of action than morphine due to plasma protein binding (t1/2 approximately 25 hrs).
• Used in methadone maintenance programs for drug addicts and for opiate withdrawal. Opiate withdrawal is more prolonged but is less intense than it is following morphine or heroin.

Topical Anesthetics

Benzocaine

Benzocaine is a derivative of procaine, an ester type local anesthetic, and is poorly soluble in water and is

available only as a topical anesthetic.

-  Localized allergic reactions are sometimes encountered    

-  Overdosing is unlikely as benzocaine is poorly absorbed into the blood, which decreases the likelihood of systemic toxicity.

- The onset of surface anesthesia is rapid requiring less than one minute.

Tetracaine

- Tetracaine is an ester type local anesthetic

-  Topically applied tetracaine as opposed to benzocaine has a prolonged duration of action.

Cocaine

- Cocaine is a ester type anesthetic that is used exclusively as a topical agent.

- Cocaine is unique among topical and injectable anesthetics in that it has vasoconstrictive as well as anesthetic properties. It is used sparingly because of its abuse potential but is still used when hemostasis of mucous membranes is essential.

- Cocaine is generally available in concentrations of 2-10 % solution.

Lidocaine

- Lidocaine is an amide local anesthetic that is available in injectable and topical formulations.

- It is available in gel, viscous solution, ointment and aerosol preparations in concentrations ranging from 2-10 %.

- The onset of anesthesia is slower relative to benzocaine but, the duration is about the same.

- Absorption into the bloodstream is greater than benzocaine providing a greater risk of systemic toxicity.

Chloral hydrate

1. Short-acting sleep inducer—less risk of “hangover” effect the next day.
2. Little change on REM sleep.
3. Metabolized to trichloroethanol, an active metabolite; further metabolism inactivates the drug.
4. Used for conscious sedation in dentistry.
5. Can result in serious toxicity if the dose is not controlled.