History
Lidocaine was first introduced as Xylocaine to Astra Pharmaceutical Product by Swedish chemist Nils Lofgren and co-worker Bengt Lundqvist in 1943. They needed funds to further extend their research on the substance. Their research lasted about five years before xylocaine appeared in the market.
Lidocaine was derived from cocaine. Because cocaine is highly addictive, attempts to remove it from the medical industry brought out anesthetic Novocaine and Lidocaine. Novocaine was also proven to be addictive. As a result, Lidocaine became to best anesthetic at the time and it continues to be one of the most popular anesthetics in use today.
Lidocaine was derived from cocaine. Because cocaine is highly addictive, attempts to remove it from the medical industry brought out anesthetic Novocaine and Lidocaine. Novocaine was also proven to be addictive. As a result, Lidocaine became to best anesthetic at the time and it continues to be one of the most popular anesthetics in use today.