vasoconstrictor
A pharmacological agent, such as epinephrine or levonordefrin, added to local anesthetic solutions to prolong duration of action and reduce systemic absorption.
Full Definition
Vasoconstrictors are adrenergic agonists co-formulated with local anesthetics to constrict blood vessels at the injection site, slowing vascular uptake of the anesthetic and prolonging its effect on nerve tissue. Epinephrine (adrenaline) is the most commonly used vasoconstrictor in dental anesthetic cartridges, typically at concentrations of 1:100,000 or 1:200,000. Levonordefrin (Neo-Cobefrin) is an alternative with less cardiovascular stimulation. Editors must be attentive to concentration notation—written as a ratio, not a percentage—and to the cardiovascular cautions relevant to medically compromised patients. The term should not be confused with 'epinephrine' alone, as the broader category includes other agents.
Usage
Usage note: Vasoconstrictor concentrations must always appear as ratios (e.g., 1:100,000), never as percentages; flag any percentage notation as an editorial error.
In Context
- "The drug table listed the vasoconstrictor concentration as 1:100,000 epinephrine, which the editor confirmed was correctly expressed as a ratio rather than a percentage." — Drug reference table in a clinical journal
- "Patients with uncontrolled hypertension require careful consideration before vasoconstrictor-containing local anesthetics are administered." — Pre-anesthetic evaluation checklist