Chloroprocaine is classified as which type of local anesthetic?

Chloroprocaine is classified as which type of local anesthetic?

• A. Ester
• B. Amide
• C. Both ester and amide
• D. Neither ester nor amide

Answer: (A)

Chloroprocaine is an ester local anesthetic. Local anesthetics are categorized as esters or amides based on the chemical bond linking the aromatic portion of the molecule to the amine side chain. Chloroprocaine contains an ester bond, not an amide. This ester linkage is rapidly hydrolyzed by plasma cholinesterases (pseudocholinesterase), which gives it a very short duration of action compared with amide anesthetics, which are metabolized mainly in the liver and tend to last longer. So the correct classification is ester.

Chloroprocaine is an ester local anesthetic. Local anesthetics are categorized as esters or amides based on the chemical bond linking the aromatic portion of the molecule to the amine side chain. Chloroprocaine contains an ester bond, not an amide. This ester linkage is rapidly hydrolyzed by plasma cholinesterases (pseudocholinesterase), which gives it a very short duration of action compared with amide anesthetics, which are metabolized mainly in the liver and tend to last longer. So the correct classification is ester.