Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician License Practice Test

What type of anesthesia is lidocaine 5% typically used for?

1. Local anesthesia

2. General anesthesia

3. Spinal anesthesia

4. Topical anesthesia

The correct answer is: Spinal anesthesia

Lidocaine 5% is primarily utilized for local anesthesia, providing targeted pain relief in specific areas of the body. This type of anesthesia works by blocking nerve signals in the area where it is applied, leading to numbness and the alleviation of pain during minor surgical procedures, dental work, or other localized interventions. While lidocaine can be employed in various forms, such as topical applications or injections, its use in higher concentrations like 5% is particularly effective for localized nerve blocks or surface numbness on the skin, making it suitable for conditions requiring quick pain relief in a focused area. The option regarding spinal anesthesia, which involves injecting anesthesia into the spinal column, does not align with the typical applications of lidocaine, especially at this concentration. Thus, recognizing lidocaine 5% as a form of local anesthesia is essential in understanding its practical applications in clinical settings.