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Short-acting ester local anaesthetic

Chloroprocaine hydrochloride

Brand names: Ampres, Clorotekal

Chloroprocaine hydrochloride is a short-acting ester local anaesthetic used for infiltration anaesthesia and short surgical or obstetric procedures, including some neuraxial techniques.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Clinical monograph

How it works

It reversibly blocks voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve membranes, inhibiting nerve impulse conduction to produce a rapid-onset, short-duration local anaesthetic effect.

Prescribing in practice

  • Inadvertent intravascular injection can cause systemic CNS and cardiovascular toxicity, so aspirate before injection, use incremental dosing and keep resuscitation facilities available.
  • As an ester anaesthetic it is rapidly hydrolysed by plasma esterases, giving a short duration of action suited to brief procedures.
  • Caution is needed in patients with hypersensitivity to ester-type local anaesthetics or with reduced plasma cholinesterase activity.

Monitoring

Monitor cardiovascular and neurological status and watch for early features of local anaesthetic systemic toxicity during and after injection.

Counselling the patient

  • Explain that numbness is expected and will resolve relatively quickly after a short procedure.
  • Advise reporting dizziness, tinnitus or numbness around the mouth straight away.

Evidence & guidelines

Its use is described in product information and reflects established practice for short-duration regional anaesthesia.

Reference: Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

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