Last reviewed 2026-06-01 · How we verify

Buffered Lidocaine

Buffered Lidocaine is a Local anesthetic Small molecule drug developed by University of California, San Diego. It is currently FDA-approved for Local and regional anesthesia for surgical and diagnostic procedures, Infiltration anesthesia, Nerve blocks. Also known as: 1% lidocaine combined (9:1) with sodium bicarbonate, Hospira brand 1% Lidocaine in 20 mL vial, Hospira brand 8.4% sodium bicarbonate in 50 mL vial, Xylocaine.

Buffered lidocaine is a local anesthetic that blocks sodium channels in nerve cell membranes to prevent pain signal transmission, with added buffer to reduce injection pain and tissue irritation.

Buffered Lidocaine is a small molecule that acts as a sodium channel alpha subunit blocker, classified as a BLOCKER. It has been studied for various conditions, including pain control in first trimester abortion, and has been used in paracervical blocks.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Lidocaine works by inhibiting sodium influx through voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve fibers, thereby preventing depolarization and action potential propagation. The buffering agent (typically sodium bicarbonate) raises the pH of the solution, which increases the proportion of non-ionized lidocaine that can penetrate nerve tissue more readily, accelerating onset and reducing injection discomfort. This formulation is particularly useful for procedures requiring rapid anesthesia with minimal patient discomfort.

Approved indications

• Local and regional anesthesia for surgical and diagnostic procedures
• Infiltration anesthesia
• Nerve blocks

Common side effects

• Injection site pain or discomfort
• Transient paresthesia
• Allergic reaction (rare with amide lidocaine)
• Systemic toxicity (at high doses)

Key clinical trials

• Reducing Side-effects of Autologous Skin Tissue Harvesting (EARLY_PHASE1)
• Buffered Lidocaine for Reducing Pain in Patients Undergoing Prostate Biopsy, BURN Trial (PHASE1, PHASE2)
• Engage 24: Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of URG101 in Subjects With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (PHASE2)
• RHA® Redensity Eye Versus No-treatment for the Infra-Orbital Hollows (NA)
• Safety, Efficacy, and Frequency of Administration of VNX001 in the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) (PHASE2)
• Safety and Efficacy Study of VNX001 Compared to Its Individual Components (Lidocaine and Heparin) or Placebo in Subjects With IC/BPS (PHASE2)
• Split Face Study of the Duration of Local Anesthetics - Fourth Arm (PHASE4)
• Bicarbonate Addition to Lidocaine-Epinephrine in Surgery Under WALANT (PHASE4)

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

• Buffered Lidocaine CI brief — competitive landscape report
• Buffered Lidocaine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
• University of California, San Diego portfolio CI

Frequently asked questions about Buffered Lidocaine

Related

• Drug class: All Local anesthetic drugs
• Target: All drugs targeting Voltage-gated sodium channels
• Manufacturer: University of California, San Diego — full pipeline
• Therapeutic area: All drugs in Anesthesia/Pain Management
• Indication: Drugs for Local and regional anesthesia for surgical and diagnostic procedures
• Indication: Drugs for Infiltration anesthesia
• Indication: Drugs for Nerve blocks
• Also known as: 1% lidocaine combined (9:1) with sodium bicarbonate, Hospira brand 1% Lidocaine in 20 mL vial, Hospira brand 8.4% sodium bicarbonate in 50 mL vial, Xylocaine

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing