Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of intermediate-acting local anesthetics?

Intermediate-acting local anesthetics are characterized by specific properties that influence their duration of action and clinical applications. Anesthesia lasting between 2-4 hours is typical for these anesthetics, such as lidocaine and mepivacaine, which makes them suitable for various outpatient procedures where moderate-duration anesthesia is often required. Furthermore, many intermediate-acting local anesthetics belong to the amide class.

The notion that there is a higher risk of allergic reactions associated with intermediate-acting local anesthetics may stem from a misunderstanding. While allergic reactions can occur with any local anesthetic, amide-type anesthetics, in particular, typically have a lower incidence of genuine allergic reactions compared to ester-type anesthetics. This context clarifies that characteristics such as duration of action, suitability for outpatient procedures, and their classification as amide-type anesthetics are essential to understanding the properties of intermediate-acting local anesthetics.