Shortage of injectable 1% lidocaine with epinephrine

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of injectable 1% lidocaine with epinephrine. This specific drug shortage is clearly related to the previously reported shortages of injectable lidocaine presentations. Epinephrine is injected with lidocaine for local anesthesia to offset the dilation of the blood vessels caused by lidocaine. This results in better localization of the anesthesia and the duration of anesthesia is longer since the lidocaine can't get into the bloodstream as quickly. One of the benefits of lidocaine is how quickly it is metabolized. If this feature isn't appropriate to the particular medical procedure to be performed, epinephrine will slow the travel of the lidocaine to the liver, where it is rapidly metabolized.