FDA pharmacologic class
Amide Local Anesthetic
5 medicines are in FDA's class of amide local anesthetics: lidocaine (Xylocaine), bupivacaine (Exparel), ropivacaine (Naropin), mepivacaine (Carbocaine) and prilocaine (Citanest); 8 combination products also contain one. 9 of the 13 are listed from generic labelers (FDA NDC Directory, October 8, 2026). The lowest pharmacy cost is bupivacaine 0.5% vial at $0.086 per mL (NADAC).
Which medicines are amide local anesthetic?
| Medicine | Brand names | Generic labelers (all forms) | Pharmacy cost | Boxed warning | Shortage | Recalls since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lidocaine | Xylocaine, Lidoderm, Ztlido | 81 labelers | $0.154 per gram 5% ointment | No | In shortage | 39 |
| Bupivacaine | Marcaine, Sensorcaine, Exparel | 26 labelers | $0.086 per mL 0.5% vial | Yes | In shortage | 17 |
| Ropivacaine | Naropin | 18 labelers | n/a | No | In shortage | 4 |
| Epinephrine and lidocaine | Xylocaine, Xylocaine-Mpf, Flavalta | 17 labelers | $0.139 per mL 1%-epi 1:100,000 | No | In shortage | 9 |
| Articaine and epinephrine | Orabloc | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry | 1 |
| Bupivacaine and epinephrine | Sensorcaine, Marcaine | 5 labelers | n/a | Yes | No current entry | 10 |
| Lidocaine and prilocaine | Oraqix | 12 labelers | $0.232 per gram 2.5%-2.5% cream | No | No current entry | 1 |
| Mepivacaine | Polocaine, Polocaine-Mpf, Scandonest | 12 labelers | n/a | No | No current entry | 5 |
| Dextrose and lidocaine | none listed | none listed | n/a | No | Listed; available | 0 |
| Bupivacaine and meloxicam | Zynrelef | none listed | n/a | Yes | No current entry | 1 |
| Epinephrine and prilocaine | Citanest | 2 labelers | n/a | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Lidocaine and tetracaine | Pliaglis | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry | 1 |
| Prilocaine | Citanest | 1 labeler | n/a | No | No current entry | 0 |
Source: FDA Established Pharmacologic Class (NDC Directory, openFDA); CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026; FDA shortages and recalls (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay?
Each medicine's most widely listed form, per unit, in the NADAC survey: what pharmacies paid, not what a patient pays; strengths differ, so compare like with like.
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price