A composition for local anesthesia which comprises a local anesthetic as an active ingredient and an agent for maintaining anesthetic action selected from the group consisting of acidic mucopolysaccharides such as sodium chondroitin sulfate and cellulose derivatives such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and does not contain catecholamines, which has durability of anesthetic action suitable for minor dental operations such as tooth extraction, and can be used as a safe composition for local anesthesia used for oral surgery or dental treatment.