Local anesthetics are drugs that cause reversible loss of sensation, especially pain, in localized areas of the body. They work by blocking the generation and conduction of nerve impulses at sites of contact without damaging neurons. Some examples of their clinical use include topical application to mucous membranes, infiltration near peripheral nerves, and use in epidural or subarachnoid spaces surrounding spinal nerves. Local anesthetics are classified based on potency and chemical structure as ester-linked types that are short-acting and amide-linked types that are longer-acting. Common local anesthetics discussed include lidocaine, bupivacaine, and EMLA cream, which is a eutectic mixture used topically