Proparacaine Hydrochloride is the hydrochloride salt form of proparacaine, a benzoic acid derivative with local anesthetic property. Proparacaine hydrochloride stabilizes the neuronal membrane by binding to and inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels, thereby inhibiting sodium ion influx required for the initiation and conduction of impulses within the neuronal cell, and resulting in a loss of sensation.
Topical anesthetic (ophthalmic); Neuronal conductance inhibitor.
Alcaine (Alcon); Ophthetic (Allergan); Paracaine (Optopics).
Proparacaine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution is indicated for topical anesthesia in ophthalmic practice.
Occasional temporary stinging, burning and conjunctival redness may occur with the use of proparacaine. A rare, severe, immediate-type, apparently hyperallergic corneal reaction characterized by acute, intense and diffuse epithelial keratitis, a gray, ground glass appearance, sloughing of large areas of necrotic epithelium, corneal filaments and sometimes iritis with descemetitis has been reported. Allergic contact dermatitis from proparacaine with drying and fissuring of the fingertips has been reported.
The mechanism of action of proparacaine hydrochloride is to reduce the instantaneous permeability of neurons to sodium, stabilize the nerve cell membrane, and prevent the generation and conduction of nerve electrical impulses, thereby producing anesthesia.Likely inhibits epithelial voltage gated sodium channels like other local anesthetics.
